04/22/15 - NNHS Newsletter

Kenneth A. Lipscomb

Kenneth Austin Lipscomb, 70, of Spotsylvania County passed away Monday, April 20, 2015 at Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center.

Ken was born in Newport News Virginia to George and Rita Lipscomb on December 29, 1944. He graduated from Newport News High School in 1963, Frederick College in 1967 (BS in Music Education) and James Madison College in 1974 (Masters of Music).
Ken taught in Spotsylvania County from 1967 until retirement in 2008 at John J Wright Consolidated School, John J. Wright Middle School, Spotsylvania High School, Courtland High School and Chancellor High School. He received 19 VBODA “Virginia Honor Band” designations (1982-2008), was a charter member and past president of Phi Beta Mu, member of the Virginia Music Educators Association (MENC), member and adjudicator for the VBODA, board member of the UMW Orchestra, member of the UMW Concert Band and member and assistant conductor for the Fredericksburg Community Concert Band.

Ken Lipscomb

Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Brenda Lipscomb; sons, Kenneth Austin Lipscomb II (Roxanne), Kener Bradford Lipscomb and his wife Jessica; four grandchildren, Bradley Kener Lipscomb, Ryan Kenneth Lipscomb, Chase Bradford Lipscomb and Bryce Alexander Lipscomb.

A memorial service will be held at the Chancellor High School auditorium 2600 Harrison Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22407 on Sunday April 26th at 4pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Fredericksburg Community Concert Band, c/o PO Box 7913 Fredericksburg, VA 22404 or by visiting their website, www.fredericksburgcommunityband.com.

Published in the Daily Press on April 22, 2015. Sign and View Guest Book
View Guest Book

April 21, 2015, 1:21 PM

Thank Mr. Lipscomb, you were a big influence in my life.

~ Randal A Zubyk

April 21, 2015, 1:30 PM

When I heard of Mr. Lipscomb’s passing I could not believe it. He was such a kind, and gentle man with a fierce love of music and of his students. Though I never studied music under Mr. Lipscomb I knew him well from my years in symphonic band and marching band at Spotsy High. His passion for music and teaching students was phenomenal!. Even in his retirement he would substitute teach and you could see the joy it brought him to spread his infectious love of music. Rest in peace, sir. You will certainly be missed by all whom you touched in your life!!

~ Belinda Tiedt

April 21, 2015, 1:45 PM

What a great man he was. Spotsy and surrounding areas will truly miss him. I will always remember him as my music teacher at Spotsy. Our daughter loved him as well as Band sub. Sorry for your loss.

~ Marlene Seay Bageant

April 21, 2015, 2:59 PM

Please accept my condolences. May you find comfort in the fond memories of your loved one. The Bible also offers words of comfort during times of bereavement. It is comforting to know the Bible speaks of a time when “death will be no more” at Rev 21:3, 4. During your time of bereavement you can find comfort in reading these verses in the Bible. For more scriptural encouragement, visit www.jw.org.

~ T. Kelly

April 21, 2015, 3:08 PM

May God bless and keep you during this time. Please take comfort in all the lives Ken touched as a band director.

~ Cheryl Henderson

April 21, 2015, 4:08 PM

Please accept my condolences. May God give you peace during this difficult time. Ken’s passing is a great loss to the music community. He has touch thousands with his kindness and knowledge.

~ Bob Pomerleau

April 21, 2015, 4:13 PM

My condolences to the Lipscomb family. Mr. Lipscomb was my band director who gave me a chance to grow in music and character. I thank him for his dedication and I will think of you, his family, during this time of loss.

~ Dianne Stafford

April 21, 2015, 4:32 PM

Our prayers are with you as you walk through this. I will always remember Mr. Lipscomb and how he challenged us to be the best we could be. Whether the band had 250 members or 25, he gave his best so we would too. I still can’t sightread a piece of music without counting 1eUPd (or even better 1bEbUPbDb). He will be greatly missed, but his influence will continue to live on.

Cindy (Harwood) Tremblay
RBMB 88-90

- Cindy Tremblay

April 21, 2015, 5:06 PM

Thoughts and Prayers to all the family of Mr. Lipscomb. He was such a big influence in a lot of young lives. I am grateful for the opportunity to have known him during my high school years and beyond. Heaven has gained a talented musician and wonderful man. RIP Mr. L.
RBMB (82-86)

~ Linda Samuels Randall

April 21, 2015, 5:06 PM

We are so very sorry for your loss, Brenda and family. We can only hope that these messages leave you with comfort during this sad time. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with your whole family at this time.

~ Kevin and Jenny Conaty

April 21, 2015, 5:10 PM

My condolences to Brenda and the rest of the Lipscomb family. It was a pleasure to work with Ken at Chancellor HS. He was passionate about his music and loved his sons and grandchildren very much. I am so sorry for your loss.
Connie Bartram

- Connie Bartram

April 21, 2015, 5:30 PM

“Mr. L” was the band director for Candy (ChHS ’10) & Cody (ChHS ’12). What a big loss for our community. I never met a man who loved music and students like he did. He was a director that put forth his everything to develop young musicians. He was serious about his band programs, VBODA, and teaching students. He was so very involved in his students, family and community! 42 Years he taught music to our Spotsylvania students. We are so blessed to have him in our school system for so very long.. He wasn’t always easy….but he surely cared to bring out the best in each student and he did not take any crap from his students! Mr. L would be a “big kid” himself. He loved the trips out of State, especially Disney World. He gave so much of himself to the Spotsylvania/Fredericksburg Communities. Thank you Mr. L for such dedication. You leave a huge legacy to so many. RIP.
Brenda, thank you for always supporting him and being such a loving & committed wife in Ken’s life. To his sons & their families…..he loved you all so much. Those grandbabies….oh boy…he just loved those grandbabies!!!! They fulfilled his retirement with such love & joy! He loved to brag on his grandbabies!!! Very proud Grandpa!
May the loving memories of your husband, dad, grandpa give you all strength during this sad time. He was truly an amazing man!

~ Alan, Annie, Candy & Cody Green

April 21, 2015, 5:33 PM

Mr. Lipscomb was an incredible band director and music teacher. He was a part of a lot of us Spotsy and Courtland students memories. He will be missed and his talent will never be replaced. May there be peaceful music playing in Heaven as he enters.
All My Best Regards,
Robin Hitt-Minner

~ Robin Hitt-Minner

April 21, 2015, 5:41 PM

So honored to say I knew this great man…He taught us so much but the greatest thing is the memory he left us with. All day yesterday after hearing of his passing I read message after message of how he inspired us. Thank you Mr. LIPSCOMB FOR MAKING MY HIGH SCHOOL YEARS SO GREAT! RBMB was AMAZING because you were our leader! God Bless you, sir…R.I.P..

~ Melodie Jennings

April 21, 2015, 6:01 PM

Thank you for all you did for the music students of Spotsylvania County. Your mentoring and friendship has served me well into adulthood. You will truly be missed and may God bless your soul.

~ Kevin M. Snyder

April 21, 2015, 6:32 PM

I have fond memories of Mr. Lipscomb and the RBMB during the first 4 years of Courtland High School. He instilled a passion for music in his students, but more importantly the importance of hard work, dedication, accountability and respect for yourself, adults, and peers. He was a class act gentleman who expected the same from his students. Thanks for your years of dedication and heartfelt prayers for peace and comfort for your family.

~ Lynn Lundeman Wiles

April 21, 2015, 6:34 PM

Mr. Lipscomb, through the love of music, touched many people and students that were privileged to know him. He came into our lives at a point when my sons needed nurturing, direction and compassion, for that I will be forever grateful. Mr. L will have a permanent place in our hearts as his impact was huge. After retiring he became our customer and would hang at our counter filling us in on the latest band competitions. There are no shoes big enough to fill the hole his passing leaves. Heaven's orchestra is good hands.
Our heartfelt condolences, Mark and Pam Tures
(Joe and Geoff Jennings)

~ Pamela Tures

April 21, 2015, 6:40 PM

May you draw comfort from knowing that Mr. Lipscomb touched so many lives. He was my band director during my high school years at Spotsy. I have so many fond memories of those times. His influences on my life are too numerous to list. After High School I went on to become a teacher myself. My 36 year career in teaching was greatly influenced by him. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this sad time.

~ Elam Wayne Jarrells

April 21, 2015, 6:42 PM

RIP, MR. LIPSCOMB. YOU WILL FOREVER BE MISSED…

~ Elizabeth Kellam White

April 21, 2015, 6:51 PM

There is a void in the chair to my left in the Fredericksburg Community Concert Band that will be extremely difficult to fill. I will truly miss Ken Lipscomb.

~ Arthur Baughman

April 21, 2015, 6:53 PM

Mr. Lipscomb you will be sorely missed by the many people whose lives you touched. You had a big influence in my life. I know that I have taken many of your ways into my life. Your work ethic and absolute joy you derived from work made an impression upon me and ultimately my family.
Rest in peace until the day your band rejoins you…… keep the sweet music going for us…..

~ Joseph Childress

April 21, 2015, 7:44 PM

There are teachers in our lives whose lessons we carry with us always, and Mr. Lipscomb was one of those special teachers to me. He taught a crew of fun loving musicians, majorettes, flags, and rifles how to come together as a team, have a good time in the spirit of sportsmanship and pushed us to give 110% always. It was not about winning but in taking pride in every performance and practice, and doing our best for each other and ourselves. He taught us leadership through his love of music and his leadership of us. He in turn gave 110 % of himself to every concert band! symphonic band! and chorus he taught through the years in Spotsylvania County and to every student who came his way. Mr. Lipscomb you will be missed. I pray for peace for your family in their grief and know you have already joined a heavenly chorus.

~ Heather Moore Knight CHS RBMB '83-'86

April 21, 2015, 8:04 PM

Class of 88, never had him as a teacher but knew of him. He was well liked by his students.

~ Jamie Fitzpatrick Woodard

April 21, 2015, 8:07 PM

Ken and I became friends through our differences. Though few, I had some introspective and meaningful conversations with Ken. I really enjoyed his depth of general knowledge and, of course, his musical knowledge. Ken has, undoubtedly, positively influenced/impacted countless lives. I am grateful to have gotten to know Ken, even in small measure.
David Vita

~ David Vita

April 21, 2015, 8:08 PM

I knew him as a dedicated music teacher that did CHS proud. He loved his discipline and the students he taught. He did a lot of good in this world. He’ll be missed. RIP.

~ Joyce Bush

April 21, 2015, 8:13 PM

To Brenda, Kener, Austin, and the entire Lipscomb family,

Thank you so much for sharing Ken with the Fredericksburg community. His influence on his students and colleagues is exactly why music education is so important. Ken went beyond music education, though, and truly showed an interest in the lives of each of his students. I enjoyed keeping in touch with him, mostly through social media, and appreciated his interest in my life and my family. I know his enthusiasm and dedication to music education through band and chorus wouldn’t have been possible without the support of his family, and I thank for that.

Mr. L.,

It’s been an emotional 36 hours or so since I learned that you’d passed away. As I reflect back, I can’t remember another teacher who impacted my life and influenced me to the degree that you did. More than music, I learned determination, perseverance, leadership, and of course, how to count with ‘up’ instead of ‘and’. I’ve enjoyed reliving quite a few memories in the past day or so, and you made many of those possible. Rest well, my friend. Yours was a life well lived.

- Brian Hill

~ Brian Hill

April 21, 2015, 8:23 PM

It was so good to see Mr. Lipscomb at Homecoming 2 yrs ago. I thanked him for his care and guidance through some difficult years. He encouraged and pushed all of his students and helped us to learn how to trust ourselves. Mr. Lipscomb, thank you and Godspeed.

~ Anne Payne

April 21, 2015, 8:53 PM

To Kener, Austin, and Mrs. Lipscomb… I'm very sorry for your loss. Mr. L. Was a good teacher and will be missed. My family sends our condolences. We will keep your family in our thoughts and prayers.

April 21, 2015, 8:56 PM

Sharing thoughts and prayers with the Lipscomb family for the loss

~ Rick Knight

April 21, 2015, 8:57 PM

Exceptionally wonderful band directors seem to be infinite in the eyes of the band student, so when the end of such a director’s time comes, it hits especially hard. Although I never had Mr. Lipscomb as a band director, I was blessed to be able to get to know him through his substitute years and his advice to Riverbend’s marching band. It was obvious to me that Mr. Lipscomb was more than just a wonderful director; he created the friendliest of environments just with his jolly personality, and I never managed to forget his lovely smile. Mr. Lipscomb, thank you for everything you contributed to the music community, thank you for sharing your smile and creating smiles, and thank you for being the man every music kid looked and still looks up to.

~ Gloria Garner

April 21, 2015, 9:15 PM

Brenda and family,
Although it has been many years since I last spoke to Kenny, you and the family are always in my thoughts and prayers. Kenny was a wonderful person and I truly enjoyed his love of his students in band. I know he will be missed greatly in the community and your lives but please be comforted by the fact that everyone who met him, he left a positive mark on their lives. May God be with you and the family during this time of sadness.

~ Sheryl (Jackson) McGehe

April 21, 2015, 9:23 PM

My deepest Condolences to the family. God bless you all.

~ Renee Beverly

April 21, 2015, 9:39 PM

To the Lipscomb family, my deepest condolences on the loss of your husband, father, grandfather. I was in the Spotsylvania High School Band from 1976 – 1979. Mr. Lipscomb’s influence on my life has bee immeasurable in terms of my life long love of music. While I have not played since high school, hardly a week goes by that I don’t have some happy memory of all of my wonderful band friends. And experiences. Mr. Lipscomb touched so many students over the years and will be missed. God bless you all in the days and years to come.

~ Karen Buchanan

April 21, 2015, 9:44 PM

RIP, Mr. L., and God Bless your family. You will always be in our prayers. I thank you for all the wonderful music you instilled in my children.

Mrs. Lipscomb & family, I’m so sorry to hear of Mr. Lipscomb’s passing. He was one of my chorus teachers around 96 or 97. I had some great memories of being in his class! You all are within our thoughts and prayers!

~ Skye Scanlon

April 21, 2015, 10:02 PM

I’m forever grateful that Mr. L was my teacher, mentor and friend. He will be missed. To his family – may you be comforted that his legacy and love of music lives on in so many of us. his students. My prayers for you all.

~ Julie Burton Perry and Family

April 21, 2015, 10:03 PM

My deepest condolences to your family. I remember you were always the substitute for my band class at Thornburg Middle. I will never forget you, Mr. Lipscomb. Rest in peace.

~ Aaron Stone

April 21, 2015, 10:18 PM

When I heard the news about my favorite band director passing away it came to such a shock to me. Mr. L encouraged me to stick to music throughout my high school years when I wanted to give up. But he stuck by me and kept pushing me till the end of my Senior year. I do know the one thing Mr. L. did love to do to us students, and that was scale test. If you knew your scales then you had no problem, but if you were like me and had no clue it was hard, but I can say by the end of my senior year I had them all down. So I can thank you, Mr. L., for sticking by me and not letting me give up on myself. You will be missed dearly. LRMB class of 2007-2010

~ Candy Green

April 21, 2015, 10:25 PM

Brenda and Family,
Dana and I share your loss and pray that peace will be with you during this time of mourning. Few people who travel the road of life will have the positive impact on others’ lives as Ken. His passion with music was addictive to those of us who shared time with him. My life is richer due to many memorial experiences with Ken. He has definitely earned a “Superior” rating.

~ Edd Houck

April 21, 2015, 10:37 PM

Still in shock that one of the best bands teachers around has earned his wings, a tough and very intelligent man that knew his stuff without a doubt, you will be truly missed Sir, thanks for all the tough love and teachings Mr. L, much love to you and family. LRMB 2000+

~ Teddy Harrison

April 21, 2015, 10:43 PM

Playing Music for the Lord!
God Speed! No Cut time!

~ Joe Martineau

April 21, 2015, 10:51 PM

Mr. Lipscomb was by far the most influential teacher I had. He pushed hard to get the best out of me and all of his students. I have not forgotten and will never forget this great man.

~ Cheryl Giannotti Ainsworth

April 21, 2015, 10:59 PM

Thank you Mr. Lipscomb. You taught me to read music and to love that music. I have a deep appreciation for all music because of the passion you showed us for music. You had a drive and discipline that was so intense in those early years and those of us who were part of that Spotsy band know what I’m talking about . I am a better musician because of you. To his family, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

~ Sherry Childress Piemontesi

April 21, 2015, 11:57 PM

I was blessed to work with Ken for 3 years at Chancellor HS. His support of me and the orchestra program as we were getting off the ground there was immeasurable. He pushed me, he encouraged me, and he gave me guidance and advice – sternly, when necessary – to make me better, and to make my students better.
He had a reputation for not being a fan of orchestras – or maybe orchestra teachers (I was once greeted at Regional Orchestra with “How’s the orchestra hater?”), but we got along really well with each other. He once told me I was more like a “band guy than an orchestra guy.” Coming from him, I knew that was a pretty big compliment. He was always supportive of the new things I tried while I was at Chancellor. He was so excited by one of OUR performances that he told me afterwards, “If I’d known that was going to be that good, I would have asked if I could play too!”
As long as Ken taught, he learned – and he was excited to learn new things, to hear new music, to hear new things in pieces he’d played for years. I hope that’s something that continues to grow in me.
Many of my students would probably tell you that he was one of the toughest, hardest, and most uncompromising teachers ever. And they’d probably be right. But Ken had an expectation that you would do everything you could with the ability you had to make yourself, and the group, the best you possibly good.
I learned so much in those three short years. About music, teaching, leading, and life. And more about the frequencies that you can pick up with the right hearing aids then you could possibly imagine.
There are few educators that I have worked with or had that I have more respect for.
Brenda, you and your family are in my family’s prayers.

~ Rick Lang

April 22, 2015, 12:19 AM

What an outstanding man! We were lucky to have Mr. L. as our spiritual leader on Friday nights at the Cougars Den in the 80′s and what great influence Mr. L. had on all of us in our years at Courtland HS. The good Lord gives us gifts like Mr. L. every once in a blue moon. I know I am a better person because of the lesson I learned by just watching this great man go about his work with young people. Mr. L. loved his students; it was not a job to Mr. L. Anyone who was ever around this great man understands what I am talking about. Mr. L. just loved us all and expected greatness and he knew how to get it out of you. I will never forget the atmosphere that Mr. L. helped create for all of us to enjoy on Friday nights. I can say as a Courtland Cougar football player on the 1982 and 1983 State Championship teams that Mr. L had a critical roll in helping us win those games; the band was the backbone of our Cougar Spirit Mr. L. made sure the band gave it everything they had just like we did on the field playing those games. I just can’t say enough about how special these times were. Thank you Mr. L for making my years at Courtland HS from 1980 to 1984 so special to me and my teammates. With great love and appreciation I thank you Mr. L. and your family for all the times and memories. Chuck Eley Class of 1984

~ Chuck Eley

April 22, 2015, 12:42 AM

Spent some mighty hot August days on the Spotsy High asphalt working our butts off to become one of the Best Marching Bands in the state…Thank you, Mr. Lipscomb, for your commitment and dedication to all of us. RIP

~ Jeff Whitt

April 22, 2015, 2:59 AM

I was shocked to hear of his passing. My thoughts are with his family. God Bless You, Ken.

~ Jenny Stevens

April 22, 2015, 5:27 AM

My sincerest condolences to Mr. Lipscomb’s family! He was an honorable man, and will be truly missed. My fondest memory is when he came to sub he shared with me an issue of National Geographic that had a picture of him playing music! He really enjoyed sharing his love of music with all of the students.

~ Susan Endersby