John Whipple - Obituary

John Robert Whipple, 72, of Camp Springs, MD, passed away in the early hours of June 17, 2025, after a long illness. He was born on March 16, 1953, in Washington, DC, the youngest child of Gertrude (McCabe) and Irving Whipple. He attended St. Francis Xavier school in Southeast Washington, DC, and was an altar server in the parish church there. He graduated from St. John’s College High School in 1971, where he attained the rank of First Sergeant in the Cadet Corp. Following graduation, he briefly attended the University of Maryland. He took a job at PEPCO as a surveyor in 1974 and retired in 2022 as a design engineer. In the summer of 1970, he met Dineen Franclemont while they were both working at the Sears on Alabama Avenue. They were married in 1975 and have 6 children. From a young age, John was interested in music. He first trained as a classical guitarist, then took up drums in the high school marching band to avoid duties related to rifle drills. Starting in the mid-1960’s, he performed professionally in a succession of bands in the DC area, including Truck, HapyJack, Medulla, Swamp Rats, and Four of a Kind, as well as making guest appearances with many other local groups. Although his main instruments were his voice, acoustic guitar, and electric bass, his talent for music was such that he could get a decent sound out of any instrument – or piece of silverware – he touched. In the mid-1980’s, he joined the folk group at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Camp Springs, MD, eventually rising to become its director, a position he held until his death. He was much in demand as a liturgical musician, regularly playing services of various types at St. Joseph’s in Pomfret, MD, in the early 2000’s and St. Joseph’s in Beltsville, MD, from 2008-2020, as well as providing music at many church events throughout the DC area, including weddings, funerals, First Communions, Confirmations, parish missions, and retreats. On many of these occasions, he was accompanied by one or more of his children, all of whom have followed in his musical footsteps to some degree. A cradle Catholic, John was an active member of St. Philip’s parish since 1979. He served in various volunteer roles, including assisting with the youth group, where he planned and supervised the annual teen camping trip, which was the highlight of the summer. Both John and Dineen became professed members of the Secular Franciscan Order in the early 1990’s. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, archery, target shooting, hiking, and camping, and he reveled in passing that love on to new generations, both within his family and as an instructor in the Maryland Hunter Safety Education Program. Throughout his life, John was also involved with the Boy Scouts of America, first as a youth when he achieved the rank of Life, then from 2007 to 2012 as an Assistant Scoutmaster in Troop 253 where his son Joseph earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He loved history, especially the American Civil War and World War II eras, and would spend hours watching documentaries and then passing on interesting tidbits to anyone who would listen. He was the master of the “Dad Joke,” and he never met a pun that he didn’t like. His dry, yet often bizarre, sense of humor was well known to both family and friends alike. John’s life revolved around 3 things: his family, his faith, and his music. In all three areas, he will be sorely missed. John is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Lewis A. Whipple, Sr. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Dineen (Franclemont) Whipple; his sisters Alicia Downs and Catherine Dodds; his 6 children: Jennifer Marciano (John Marciano) of College Station, TX, John M. Whipple (Nichole Clagett) of Alexandria, VA, Juliette Whipple of Arlington, VA, James Whipple (Zettie Whipple) of Baltimore, MD, Jacqueline Beverstock (Brooks Beverstock) of Herndon, VA, and Joseph Whipple (Mykalia Tooles) of Great Mills, MD; and his 5 grandchildren: Felicity Beverstock, Cora Whipple, Anastasia Beverstock, Caitriona Whipple, and soon to be born, Alistair Whipple. Services will be held Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, 5416 Henderson Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Viewing at 10am, Funeral Mass at 11am. Interment to follow at Washington National Cemetery, 4101 Suitland Rd., Suitland-Silver Hill, MD 20746. Repast to follow at St. Philip’s Social Hall. In lieu of flowers, John’s family kindly asks that donations be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: https://lls.org Relatives and friends are invited to John's Life Celebration on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 from 10 A.M. until the start of the service at 11 A.M. at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, 5416 Henderson Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Interment to follow at Washington National Cemetery, 4101 Suitland Rd, Suitland-Silver Hill, MD 20746.