Funeral service for Keith E. Pinson, 81, of Tipton, will be held at 10 a.m., Friday at the First Baptist Church in Tipton with the Rev. Cal Hunter, the Rev. Harold Gaches and the Rev. Paul Beam officiating. Burial will follow in the Tipton Cemetery under the direction of Jackson Funeral Home of Frederick. Mr. Pinson passed away Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012, in Oklahoma City. His new address will be in Heaven, “Just on the other side”.

Keith Eugene Pinson was born Dec. 29, 1930, in Tipton to Jack Beall and Frances Oline (Payne) Pinson. He attended Tipton Public Schools, graduating from Tipton High School in 1949. Keith attended Oklahoma A&M and Oklahoma Baptist University and later graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1952.

In the summer of 1949, he met his future wife at Falls Creek Baptist Assembly. Later on Sept. 9, 1951, he and Doris Lucille “Lucy” Bullard were married in McAlester. She preceded him in death on Dec. 13, 1999.

Keith farmed and raised Angus cattle in the Tipton area from 1952 until he retired from farming in 1984. He also worked at several other positions - Western Auto Stores in Norman, a repairman for Tillman County Maytag Company, school bus driver for Tipton Public Schools, assistant at Frederick Municipal Airport, courier driver for Oklahoma Cotton Cooperative, and the United States Postal Service.

Keith was a life-long member of the First Baptist Church in Tipton. He was ordained as deacon on March 30, 1969 and served 40 years before being named “Deacon Emeritus” in 2000. He served on the Board of Directors for Tipton Farmers Coop. He was the proud founder, owner and operator of “Pinson’s Cottonpatch Airport” and was an avid pilot, gun swapper, and motorcyclist. Keith was also a ham radio operator holding the call sign WA5ZFI.

He is survived by three daughters, Judy McClure and husband Dan of Houston, Texas, Jeny Searcy and husband Mike of Oklahoma City, and Jana Gruidl and husband Mike of Tampa, Fla.; six grandchildren, Andrew McClure and wife Diana, Mark McClure, Kathleen McClure, David Searcy and wife Miranda, Katie Watkins and husband Richard and Matthew Gruidl; three great-grandchildren, Geoffrey Searcy, Elisabeth Searcy and Lane Watkins; one brother, Lynn Royce “Butch” Pinson and wife Nancy of Tipton and nieces Kari and Jo Lynn and their families. Keith and Butch were life long best friends and buddies. Keith is also survived by Donna Smith, a special friend that was loved and appreciated by his entire family.

Memorial contributions may be made to he First Baptist Church of Tipton in memory of Keith E. Pinson.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m., today at the funeral home in Frederick.

An online guest book is available at www.jacksonfuneral.net