Robert E. Gipe, 67, Vineland teacher

Robert E. Gipe, 67, of Woolwich, a former Vineland public schoolteacher, died of pancreatic cancer on Saturday, Aug. 9, at Penn Hospice at Rittenhouse in Philadelphia.

After a career in store management, Mr. Gipe was a teacher at the Cunningham Alternative School since 2004. "It was a difficult assignment, but he loved it," his wife, Susan, said in a phone interview.

Born in Hagerstown, Md., Mr. Gipe earned a bachelor's in economics at the University of Maryland in 1969 and a master's in educational psychology at Salisbury (Md.) State College in 1973.

After serving as a U.S. Army water-treatment specialist, with duties such as installing and operating water purification equipment, Mr. Gipe was in management for Sears, Roebuck & Co. in Pennsylvania and South Jersey, opening its store in the Burlington Center Mall in Burlington Township in 1984 as the store manager, his wife said.

After managing stores for other firms, his wife said, "he realized that he really wanted to teach school."

Besides teaching in Vineland since 2004, she said, Mr. Gipe for the last four years had been an adjunct professor of business at Salem Community College.

He was a member of the Vineland Education Association and the National Education Association.

Besides his wife, Mr. Gipe is survived by son Adam, daughter Kathryn Talone, four brothers, a sister, and four grandchildren.

A visitation was set from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, at the Lewis Funeral Home, 78 E. Main St., Moorestown, with a funeral service at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, at the First United Methodist Church, Camden Avenue and Pleasant Valley Avenue, Moorestown.

Donations may be sent to the Hagerstown Community College Foundation 11400 Robinwood Dr., Hagerstown, Md., 21742.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.lewisfuneralhomemoorestown.com.