George "Dee Dee" Dallas Pipkin Jr.
A young Dee Dee with his mother, Thelma Stancil Pipkin, in 1940.
George Dallas “Dee Dee” Pipkin Jr. was born on October 5, 1939, in Norfolk, Virginia. The son of George Dallas Pipkin Sr. and Thelma Stancil Pipkin, he grew up immersed in the extended family's Virginia roots. He attended Newport News High School, where he ran cross country.
Following high school, George answered the call to serve his country, joining the United States Navy. He spent six honorable years on active duty, serving aboard the DesFlot flag cruiser USS Newport News (CA-148). His time on the cruiser was a proud, defining chapter of his young adulthood that fostered a lifelong patriotism.
A Spirit of Music and Faith
George was known throughout his life for his larger-than-life personality, his profound warmth, and an innate love for people. A naturally talented musician, he poured his creativity into his band, the Circuit Riders. For years, George and his band performed throughout North Carolina, sharing bluegrass, country, and gospel music. Music was one of his greatest gifts, and he used it constantly to bring people together and lift their spirits.
His faith was equally central to his life. George served as a devoted member and priest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Logoff, South Carolina. Through his ministry, he dedicated countless hours to community service, spreading the gospel, and building cherished, lifelong friendships within his congregation.
The Stancil Family Connection
George shared two children with Lisa: Samantha Lee Pipkin and George Tyrone Pipkin. For decades, George was a mainstay at the annual Stancil Family Reunions, frequently making the trip with his children and his then-wife Gayle. He loved the family history deeply and always eagerly anticipated the chance to sit down, swap stories, and visit with Jerry Durward Stancil and Renn Stancil Hinton.
Courtesy Stancil Family Reunion Archive
Passing and Legacy
George passed away at the age of 83 on March 31, 2023, at the VCU Hospital in Richmond, Virginia. Though three years have passed since his departure, the impression left by his kindness, sharp humor, and vibrant musical spirit remains completely undiminished. He lives on vividly in the family archives and in the hearts of the many family members, friends, and musicians he inspired along the way.
— Ty Hinton, son of Renn Stancil Hinton, daughter of George Ralph Stancil