Elizabeth Jane Lippmann
September 3, 1946 ~ July 16, 2021
Colonel Elizabeth J. Lippmann (USA, Ret.)
On Friday, July 16, 2021, Elizabeth J. Lippmann passed away in the Reston Hospital Center, Reston, Virginia. She was born on September 3, 1946 in Muskogee, Oklahoma to Patricia (Kershaw) Lippmann and Joseph Lippmann. She was the eldest of seven children. Her maternal grandparents, L. R. and Clara Kershaw, were Oklahoma pioneers who came to Oklahoma before it became a state in 1907.
In 1964, she graduated from Central High School in Muskogee and pursued advanced education with the University of Oklahoma. Her developing talents as a student led to scholastic and leadership achievements including Senior Class Vice President, 1963 Football Queen and State of Oklahoma Junior Classical League Vice President during high school. Upon graduation, a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Oklahoma was completed in less than four years while complementing her university experience with membership in the Kappa Alpha Theta social sorority. Additional advanced education remained an important objective for her throughout her professional life and she earned master’s degrees in Library Science and Systems Management.
Elizabeth’s initial introduction to the Department of Defense began when she accepted a position as a librarian in Washington, DC. Subsequent assignments rapidly followed with Army librarian positions in Korea and Germany. While in Korea, she actively supported the transition of orphaned Korean children to the United States for placement to include accompanying them on two international flights.
Her close association with the military while discharging librarian assignments resulted in a decision to join the U.S. Army in 1979. She completed basic training and received a direct commission as a First Lieutenant in the Adjutant General’s Corp in 1980. She later transferred military branches to the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Excelling in European and stateside military assignments culminated with her retirement from the U.S. Army on September 3, 2006 as Colonel after 27 years of service. Retirement from civilian federal service in 2004 preceded the completion of her military career.
Colonel Lippmann graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Air War College and the Department of the Army Inspector General School. Significant deployments and assignment highlights include activation for Operation DESERT STORM in support of U.S. VII Corps, Germany, 1980; emergency communications support for Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, Louisiana; Plans Officer, 7th Army Reserve Command, Germany; Personnel Officer, 310th Theater Army Area Command, Germany; Arms Control Specialist, 80th Area Support Group, Belgium; and Communications Emergency Operations Officer for the National Communications System, Arlington, Virginia.
Colonel Lippmann’s awards and decorations received during her career include Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal with “M” device, Army Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon with 15 devices and the Bronze Bundeswehr Sports badge.
Colonel Lippmann will be remembered as a true patriot having served her country during times of war and peace, in both military and civilian roles. She cared deeply about others, particularly for students and for our military men and women who sacrifice so much for this nation. She was generous with her time and talents. Especially significant was her endowment for two college scholarship funds for deserving Muskogee High School senior students. The L. R. Kershaw Leadership Scholarship and the Edwin J. Lippmann, Jr. Leadership Scholarship were established in honor of her grandfather and a brother, respectively. She was an eternal optimist and believed in leaving the world a better place by doing an act of kindness each day - a smile, a comforting word or a gift.
She is survived by her husband, BG Frederick Essig (USA, Ret.); two daughters, Lara Martin (Robert) and Lenee’ Essig; a grandson, Sean Martin; a sister, four brothers, a niece and six nephews. A funeral service and interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery. The date and time will be announced on the Money & King Vienna Funeral Home website. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Fisher House Foundation.
On Friday, July 16, 2021, Elizabeth J. Lippmann passed away in the Reston Hospital Center, Reston, Virginia. She was born on September 3, 1946 in Muskogee, Oklahoma to Patricia (Kershaw) Lippmann and Joseph Lippmann. She was the eldest of seven children. Her maternal grandparents, L. R. and Clara Kershaw, were Oklahoma pioneers who came to Oklahoma before it became a state in 1907.
In 1964, she graduated from Central High School in Muskogee and pursued advanced education with the University of Oklahoma. Her developing talents as a student led to scholastic and leadership achievements including Senior Class Vice President, 1963 Football Queen and State of Oklahoma Junior Classical League Vice President during high school. Upon graduation, a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Oklahoma was completed in less than four years while complementing her university experience with membership in the Kappa Alpha Theta social sorority. Additional advanced education remained an important objective for her throughout her professional life and she earned master’s degrees in Library Science and Systems Management.
Elizabeth’s initial introduction to the Department of Defense began when she accepted a position as a librarian in Washington, DC. Subsequent assignments rapidly followed with Army librarian positions in Korea and Germany. While in Korea, she actively supported the transition of orphaned Korean children to the United States for placement to include accompanying them on two international flights.
Her close association with the military while discharging librarian assignments resulted in a decision to join the U.S. Army in 1979. She completed basic training and received a direct commission as a First Lieutenant in the Adjutant General’s Corp in 1980. She later transferred military branches to the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Excelling in European and stateside military assignments culminated with her retirement from the U.S. Army on September 3, 2006 as Colonel after 27 years of service. Retirement from civilian federal service in 2004 preceded the completion of her military career.
Colonel Lippmann graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Air War College and the Department of the Army Inspector General School. Significant deployments and assignment highlights include activation for Operation DESERT STORM in support of U.S. VII Corps, Germany, 1980; emergency communications support for Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, Louisiana; Plans Officer, 7th Army Reserve Command, Germany; Personnel Officer, 310th Theater Army Area Command, Germany; Arms Control Specialist, 80th Area Support Group, Belgium; and Communications Emergency Operations Officer for the National Communications System, Arlington, Virginia.
Colonel Lippmann’s awards and decorations received during her career include Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal with “M” device, Army Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon with 15 devices and the Bronze Bundeswehr Sports badge.
Colonel Lippmann will be remembered as a true patriot having served her country during times of war and peace, in both military and civilian roles. She cared deeply about others, particularly for students and for our military men and women who sacrifice so much for this nation. She was generous with her time and talents. Especially significant was her endowment for two college scholarship funds for deserving Muskogee High School senior students. The L. R. Kershaw Leadership Scholarship and the Edwin J. Lippmann, Jr. Leadership Scholarship were established in honor of her grandfather and a brother, respectively. She was an eternal optimist and believed in leaving the world a better place by doing an act of kindness each day - a smile, a comforting word or a gift.
She is survived by her husband, BG Frederick Essig (USA, Ret.); two daughters, Lara Martin (Robert) and Lenee’ Essig; a grandson, Sean Martin; a sister, four brothers, a niece and six nephews. A funeral service and interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery. The date and time will be announced on the Money & King Vienna Funeral Home website. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Fisher House Foundation.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
The Owners and Staff at the Money and King Funeral Home, wish to express our sincere sympathy to you. It is our hope that we may be able to make a difficult time more bearable. Please feel free to call us anytime as we are always available to you. Bob Gallagher Funeral Director
“Aunt Liz” would always send my brother Jeff & I special gifts from her travels in the military. My favorite one was the HUGE tin of German cookies. She took me shopping & bought me a vest from the PX one time & she made me a meal at her home in VA. It fed my soul & made me home sick for Oklahoma because of all the flow blue in her kitchen (like Meme Jean Boehm’s) house. May eternal light shine upon your soul & until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Liz was kind, brave, generous, wise, patriotic. And a lot of fun. Rest in Peace, Liz Condolences to General Fred Essig and Liz’s family. The Lippmanns were so kind and generous to our family. Rob Hewitt
My name is Liz Skarlatos, and I had the great honor to meet Liz through a mutual friend several years ago. She helped me through a very tough time of my life — the passing of my father (also a Veteran). She requested that a flag be flown for him at the U.S. Capitol on the day of his internment at Arlington National Cemetery in March 2019, and send the flag to me and my brothers. Liz was the model of kindness, compassion, enduring friendship, and loyalty that we should all strive to share with each other. May her memory be a blessing. I will love and miss her always.
Beautiful, caring lady, with a smile for everyone at all times!
My name is Anne Walsh and I had the honor and pleasure of serving with Liz when we were assigned to the National Communications Center in Arlington, Virginia. We were both US Army Reservists and we worked in support of FEMA’s response to emergencies. Liz was an outstanding Army Officer and it showed in every task she performed. She took her job very seriously and was a wonderful leader and mentor to the Reservists assigned to our unit. Following both of our retirements from the Army Reserves, we continued to get together over lunch or dinner to catch up with one another. She was a great friend who always had an incredible ability to listen and to offer sound advice or suggestions. Her kindness, loyalty, and friendship will be greatly missed. My heartfelt condolences are with her husband, Fred, and her family during this difficult time. Best Regards, Anne Walsh
Liz was a good friend of my sister, and lived close to us in our neighborhood. It was definitely small town, lots of kids, you knew almost everyone, outside activities were the norm, very reminiscent of the 50’s portrayals in later years. I was three years older, and the Lippman’s paperboy on N. 14th St. I had not kept up, but it is easy to see that she was real credit to her family and country. Best to all the family. Eddie Boen
I remember Liz and her beauty and many talents. Her professional life Was outstanding and full of adventure. God’s blessing’s and peace to her family. I was a neighbor in Muskogee who loved the Lippman’s.