Robert Leo Sipe was born September 4, 1940, in Dallas, Texas, to Wimon Odell Sipe and Iris Blanche (Mauldin) Sipe. He passed away peacefully on May 24th, 2024, at Juliette Fowler Communities in Dallas, where he had lived since May 2020. He is survived by his son Christopher Sipe, daughter-in-law Alx Nixon, grandson Ilya Nixon-Sipe, daughter Katie Sipe, nieces Judy Browning, Kim Swann, Christi Blackshear, and sister-in-law Margaret Sipe. He is also survived by his former spouse and the mother of his children, Susan Sipe.

Robert Sipe had a 60-year career in pipe organ building, establishing a reputation as one of the foremost designers and voicers of pipe organs in America. After his education at Mt. Auburn Elementary, J.L. Long Junior High, and Woodrow Wilson High, he attended Baylor University with a special scholarship based on his interest in organs. After leaving Baylor, he extended his education through subsequent study of historic and contemporary organs throughout Europe.

When Robert was very young, he had lessons in piano, trumpet and guitar. As a teen, he studied organ at St. Matthew's Cathedral with Henry Sanderson, and served as drum major, student conductor and first chair trumpet in high school. He began to experiment with organ repair and rebuilding, visiting local organ shops, acting as key-holder and helper, and buying pipes and parts. He built his first organ in his parents home when he was a teenager, filling the attic with pipes and placing the console in the living room. After becoming friends with Weldon Flanagan, the organist at the Palace Theatre, he was trusted with keys to the Theatre and made repairs to the organ there. He filled in at Trinity Church when Flanagan was not available, as well as playing at other Dallas churches.

In 1960 Bob started his own pipe organ business and in 1964 he incorporated under the name Robert L. Sipe, Inc.. In 1962-68 he served in the Air National Guard as a trumpet player in the 531st Air Force Band.

In 1968 he married Susan E. Oliver, and she was a part of his organ business until 2010. In 1969, Bob joined Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company in Massachusetts and expanded their work into the field of mechanical action instruments. He was influential in establishing many new ideas in technical, visual and tonal design. In 1972 he returned to Dallas to continue building organs under his own name again.

This phase of his career yielded notable instruments at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa (1977); Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis, MN (1979); the Assembly Hall of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah (1983); and First Presbyterian Church in San Antonio, TX (1998); Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral, Fargo, ND (2000); First Immanuel Lutheran Church, Cedarburg, WI (2003). He completed close to 100 instruments during his long career, and retired at age 78.

The family wishes to thank his employees Charles Leonard, Jim Lane, and Jim Stillson, who added their talents to produce instruments of fine quality throughout the United States.

Bob loved his family, his home, a good steak with wine, and the Dallas Cowboys. He had an excellent memory for names and numbers. He spent years as a member of Zion Lutheran and Episcopal Church of the Incarnation in Dallas. He was a generous person and a faithful church parishioner.

Memorial Service: Tuesday, June 18th at 10:30am

Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, 3966 McKinney Ave, Dallas TX 75204

Robert will be interred with his family at Grove Hill Cemetery in Dallas.

Click this link to visit Robert's Personal Remembrance Page to share your cherished memories and upload photos of your time with him.