This is Your Life Grover Alton Pipkin

By Joy Wanda Richhart - December 29, 1982

 In 1892 you Grover Alton, were born away down on the Pipkin Farm.

At the age of sixteen to the Fleenor Farm you did go,

to fetch Miss Belva Mae and took her to church one day.

On October twenty-nineth, 1911, Miss Belva Mae became your bride,

and for sixty-three years she stayed by your warm side.

To this union were born nine little Pips-

seven little girls and two little boy chips.

Lynna Mae, she was called, the oldest and smartest of all.

Elsie Marie then came along, the sweetest one at the Pipkin Ball,

then came the Pipkin pet, Esther Lou was the greatest one yet.

Then one day in May, Leathy Adalene came their way.

Just in the middle of the Pips, brown-eyed Joy Wanda took her trip.

Along came October and the dew was on the grass

and Bernice Evelyn was born at last.

The north wind blew and the snow did fall, G.A. Pipkin Jr. a boy on call.

In the fall the pumpkin was ripe, Ava Magdalene appeared in sight.

Before the family ends, you could hear the Pips say,

“We need another little boy”, and

Buford Leon was born on Ground Hog Day.

Mr. Pip, a farmer by trade, on the different farms you did stay,

you worked each day, you and the children made your way.

Time passed and the children grew, Mr. Pip worked hard because he knew,

in time the children would marry, but he didn’t know to who.

Then one day Lynna Mae was a bride, Aaron Willis stood at her side.

She went to bed and blew out the light on her wedding night.

Aaron had a terrible fright he couldn’t find any light.

Elsie Marie was the next on call.

She and Marvin Haddock got tied up and had a ball.

All went well till Memorial Day 1953 when Elsie Marie was called away.

Esther Lou was married to Pete Roberson in time.

She moved away to Vernon. Mama thought that was a crime.

We miss her most because we were lost,

she was our weather predecessor and our boss.

Leathy Adalene a courting did go,

to find Ben Garner who let her know.

You don’t say “I’ll swanny,” and make horses go.

Joy Wanda married the Wise’s one of all, C.F. as he was called.

She jumped in bed and knocked it thru the floor and

Adalene chased her out the door.

Bernice Evelyn was engaged to a Long, J.W. was his handle and his song.

She ran Papa’s car into a tree, she said “Papa please forgive me.”

G.A. Pipkin Jr. was the first boy.

He met Miss Faye in Lone Oak and married her by choice.

To school he used to trot, trying to keep up with his sisters who walked a lot.

Ava Magdalene, Homer Brunson she did find,

when they lived down by the Honey Grove line.

A marriage license they did try and to Dallas, Texas they did fly.

Buford Leon was the last of the Pips.

That special girl has never tasted his lips.

The old cow switched her tail in his face one day

and he reached around and cut it away.

Mr. Pip your life rolls on, you and your wifes’ lives have almost gone.

To the nursing home you did move, for health reasons you did lose.

Your wife Belva Mae passed away. You’ve lived in that home till this day.

Your daughter Lynna Mae meets your needs and does for you good deeds.

Mr. Pip admit it and grin your ninetieth birthday has began.

The saying came from your own jaws,

“The devil owed you a debt, and paid you in son-in-laws.”