Obituary of Ernest Tipton Whitus Sr.

Ernest Tipton Whitus Sr., known as Tip to his friends and family, passed away at home with his eldest son at his side on the morning of May 4, 2023. He was 89 years old.

Tip joins his beloved wife Marie (Milam), parents Oscar and Lear (Sawyers), brothers Lehman Coy and Donald, sister Dorsey M. Taylor and daughter-in-law Barbara in heaven.

Born January 5, 1934 in Lily, Kentucky and grew up in Corbin where he played basketball and football for the Redhounds.

In June of 1954, Tip and Marie married in Jeffersonville, Indiana and they started their lives together in Louisville, Kentucky. After a brief time working for the L&N Railroad, Tip joined the Louisville Police Department in 1955, just prior to the birth of his son Ernest Tipton Whitus Jr.– Ernie to his friends and family.

Sons Tom and Steve followed as the family moved to Arnoldtown Road in south Louisville. Tip would remain on the police force for 34 years, retiring in 1989 as a detective.

Upon Tip’s retirement, he and Marie moved to Woodford County to live out the golden years of their lives, enjoying University of Kentucky football games - both home and away - and spending time with friends and family at their home.

Marie’s death in the fall of 2011 left a huge hole in Tip’s heart, but he persevered and remained a loyal member of his church and a good father to his three boys until his passing.

Tip is survived by sons Ernest Tipton, Jr., Thomas Milam (Laura) and Stephen Mitchell (Lisa), granddaughter Kristen, two great grandchildren, younger brother Charles D. “Wayne” (Edna), sister-in-law Nancy Milam and several nieces and nephews.

Services will be held Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 12:00pm at Clark Funeral Home, Rose Hill in Versailles, Kentucky. Visitation will be 10:00am until time of service. Burial will follow at Versailles Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to Waves of Mercy, c/o Larry & Diana Owen, P O Box 516, Versailles, KY 40383 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. (http://www.stjude.org)