Irvin Kipper

Irvin Kipper
Born
Irvin Sylvan Kipper

November 13, 1916
Fort Worth, Texas
DiedApril 21, 2016(2016-04-21) (aged 99)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationBusiness Owner
Known forKip's Toyland

Irvin Sylvan "Kip" Kipper, (November 13, 1916 – April 21, 2016) was a US Army Air Forces bomber pilot, prisoner of war, and the founder and namesake of Kip's Toyland, the oldest toy store in Los Angeles, located in the Farmer's Market since 1945.[1][2][3]

Early life

Irvin Kipper was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 13, 1916, and his family moved to Los Angeles in 1920.[1] Kipper graduated from LA's Jefferson High School as Valedictorian.[1] In 1944, he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps, ultimately becoming an officer and pilot of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress during World War II. While flying in Europe, Kipper named his B-17 "Purdy Gertie", after his wife, Gertrude.

Family

Kipper married his wife Gertrude on January 1, 1939. Born in Ohio in 1919, Gertrude and her family moved to Los Angeles in 1929, where she graduated from Los Angeles High School.[4] After they married, Kipper left for war, and it was the only time in their lives that the two were apart.[4] Gertrude was athletic and musically talented and gave tennis and piano lessons.[3]

Kipper and Gertrude had two boys, Don and Robert, as well as four grandchildren, Andrew, Lily, Natalie and Elliot.[1][5] Son Don and granddaughter Lily are now the current owners of Kip's Toyland.[6] Their other son, Robert, is a divorce attorney in Beverly Hills.[7] At the time of his death, he had been married for 77 years.[1]

Gertrude passed away only six weeks after Kipper.[8]

Military service

Kipper served with the 463rd Bombardment Group in the US Army Air Forces as a first lieutenant.[9] He served with other units as well, including 15th Air Force and 772nd Bomb Squadron.[10]

On his 26th mission, Kipper was shot down over Bologna, Italy where he was captured and spent more than seven months as a Nazi prisoner of war in the POW camps Stalag Luft III (celebrated in books, TV and film for "The Great Escape") and Stalag VII.[11] Kipper's camp was liberated by troops of George S. Patton in August 1945.[12]

Career

When Kipper returned to Los Angeles after the war, he purchased a small store to sell flags. Part of the reason he chose to open a toy store was because after the trauma he experienced during the war, he wanted to bring joy to those around him.[3] He then added balloons, which were a big hit, because rubber was rationed during the war. Then he added Slinky, board games, Lincoln Logs, Tinkertoy sets, Carrom Game Boards, and new toys as they were invented.[5][3]

FAO Schwarz opened up a short distance from Kip's Toyland, but they went out of business, while Kip's Toyland is still flourishing, recently celebrating its 75th anniversary in November 2020.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Irvin Kipper Obituary (1916 - 2016) - Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Times". www.legacy.com. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  2. ^ "Jewish Journal". Jewish Journal. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  3. ^ a b c d "Community loses a legend". Park Labrea News/ Beverly Press. 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  4. ^ a b "Community mourns loss of Kipper matriarch". Park Labrea News/ Beverly Press. 2016-06-09. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  5. ^ a b c Lopez, Steve (2003-11-28). "Toy Store Defies Odds in an Age of Giants". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  6. ^ a b "LA's Oldest Toy Store Kip's Toyland Still in Play After 75 Years | Los Angeles Business Journal". labusinessjournal.com. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  7. ^ "Avvo".
  8. ^ "Gertrude Kipper Obituary (1919 - 2016) - Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Times". www.legacy.com. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  9. ^ "Irvin Kipper - WWII Serviceman - 463BG - Squadron". www.463bg.org. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  10. ^ "Irvin Sylvan Kipper | American Air Museum in Britain". www.americanairmuseum.com. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  11. ^ "Obituary Irvin S. Kipper". Los Angeles Times.
  12. ^ "Irvin Kipper Obituary (1916 - 2016) - Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Times". www.legacy.com. Retrieved 2021-05-29.