Sandra Tippetts Dodds

Sandra Tippetts Dodds

June 7, 1935 – Jan. 3, 2023

Sandra Tippetts Dodds died peacefully on Jan. 3, 2023, surrounded by daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

 She was born June 7, 1935, in Lovell to George Milford Tippetts and Rhea Vaughn (Harshbarger) Tippetts. She grew up on a farm near Lovell with her twin brothers, Gerry and Jerry. 

Sandra was active in 4-H and became a skilled seamstress and an accomplished quilter. She especially loved creating quilt tops and quilting them by hand. She has gifted children and grandchildren many beautiful quilts to be cherished for years to come. 

With her husband, Robert Hinkel, she moved to Idaho Falls, where she raised five daughters. After their divorce, she moved to Boise, took classes at Boise State University and managed a gas station. 

After marrying Bob Dodds in 1981, she moved to Walnut Creek, California, where Bob worked as a nuclear inspector. In the 1980s, they purchased property on the McKenzie River outside of Eugene, and after they retired, Bob loved fishing for salmon.

Bob and Sandra both enjoyed remodeling their house. Sandra never met a house she couldn’t remodel. Sandra’s favorite thing was to host friends and family in their relaxing retreat on the river. 

They also enjoyed square dancing and traveling within the U.S. to visit friends and family and internationally to the Bahamas, Scotland and Austria. Sandra loved returning to Lovell for the annual Mustang Days celebration, where she met with former classmates and laughed about their escapades.

Sandra was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Gerry and Jerry, her much loved husband, Bob Dodds, and numerous four-legged furry companions. 

She is survived by her ex-husband, Robert Hinkel; daughters Cynthia (Ted) Taylor, Dana (Pete) Van Haverbeke, Kristine (John) Wehmann, Linda (Don) Spicer, Michelle Hinkel (Bob Nielsen) and Becky Dodds Lovett; son David Dodds; 15 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial is planned for this summer, the date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Greenhill Humane Society in Sandra’s name.

Services are in the care of Major Family Funeral Home in Springfield, Oregon. Visit majorfamilyfh.com to sign the online guest book.

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