Frederick Walter Dippold

Frederick Walter Dippold
Pleasant Hill, Iowa

On December 13, 1924, Frederick Walter Dippold, began his lifelong journey toward Heaven. His parents, Frederick Jr., and Harriet Robinson-Dippold, delighted in the adventurous spirit of the youthful Fred as he romped around the family farm near Slater, Iowa. That spirit would lead Fred to a life path of accomplishment and fulfillment. Some may say that Fred’s life was boring and predictable, but he succeeded in everything he attempted during his nearly 92 years. His was a life well lived.


Fred never deviated from his strong Iowa roots, preferring to stay in the Des Moines area with family and friends. Growing up during the Great Depression instilled in Fred the value of hard work for a well-earned dollar. Early employment included working on the farm; ordinance plant; storeroom clerk at L.B. Price Mercantile; housekeeping, kitchen duty, reservations clerk, bartending, and bellhop at the Hotel Kirkwood; and delivering bread for Omar Bakery. Fred also worked with his father-in-law and brothers-in-law for Thomas Brothers Septic Tank Service during the early years of its operation.


Living on the farm taught Fred the value of independence, and he longed to be his own boss. Fred studied the relatively new field of communications electronics at United Television Laboratories and started doing television repair work in the basement of his home. He opened his own business, Fred’s TV Sales and Service, in West Des Moines, Iowa, in the mid-1950’s and became an authorized RCA dealer and service center. Fred also sold and serviced Philco, Admiral, Sylvania, and a host of other television and radio brands. The shop took on the Nutone line of products in the mid-1970’s. The business flourished over the years and offered many opportunities to expand, but the young entrepreneur preferred to keep his shop small and customer oriented.


In 1945, Fred married a red-haired spitfire named Leota Viola Thomas. Leota came from a large family consisting of 10 brothers and sisters. Naturally, Leota longed for children of her own. Her wish was granted in April 1948 with the birth of a daughter, Linda Maureen (Curt) Dippold Goettsch. Steven Frederick (Carla) Dippold followed in 1961 and Glen Roy (Kyla) Dippold in 1962. Fred and Leota were further blessed with grandchildren, Brian and Matt Goettsch, Michael and Kellan Dippold, and great-grandson Justin Goettsch.


Fred lost his precious Leota to Alzheimer’s in 2003. His mother died in 1933 when Fred was only nine years old; his father passed in 1968. His brother, Homer, and his sister, Dorothy, also preceded him in death. Fred’s life left a legacy that will far outlast this humble memorial. Fred’s zest for life and strength of character will live on in his descendants for generations to come.


On October 28, 2016, the gates of Heaven opened wide to receive the soul of Fred Dippold. He has been met by Leota, his dog Sassy, and a host of friends and family. He is, at this moment, basking in the warmth of their love and that of our Lord.

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