Dwight Pippin

Dwight F. Pippin fondly called “Panchito” by his older brothers; was the fourth son born to James “Grover” Pippin and Jeronima Antonia “Toni” Lopez-Pippin in Espanola, NM in March 1944.  Dwight was known throughout the Espanola Valley as an honest local businessman who would go out of his way to help anyone in need and always took pride with his ethical work.  Dwight and Judy (Coffey) were married in 1966 and had three children: Bryon (Judy DeAguero), Britt (Kim Jangro) and Kelly (Eric Martinez). 

Dwight Pippin is preceded in death by his youngest brother Harry Jean Pippin (1946), Father Grover “Shorty” Pippin (1981), mother Jeronima Antonia “Toni” Lopez-Pippin (1988), granddaughter KayCee Pippin (1999), brother Joseph “Sylver” Pippin (2012), step siblings sister Margie Borrego (2011), sister Margaret Hughes, sister Pauline Wright and brother Robert Pippin.

As a young boy, hard work was enforced by his father.  As a young teenager, Dwight always had a job and worked to pay for his own belongings, and he took great pride in anything he owned and taught this love for detail to his children.  The wheels, chrome and upholstery were always washed, and spit shined from his bicycle to his vehicles, home and yard.  His first car was a Crosley which he bought from his father for $150.  He owned many classic cars in his youth, but his most beloved car was his 1979 El Camino. 

Dwight graduated from McCurdy High School in 1963 and was an accomplished wrestler.  His passion for fixing cars carried over as he managed Standard Motor Parts for almost twenty years, Harkins Oil gas stations for five years and became a self-made entrepreneur as an advertising agent.  In between work and family time, Dwight found time to volunteer and give back to the community of Espanola. He served as an Espanola Volunteer Fireman for nine and a half years, was a board member of the City of Espanola Planning and Zoning Board, assisted the elderly with Amigos de Valle and helped the collection committee at McCurdy Methodist Church. 

Parkinson’s is an evil disease and Dwight was diagnosed at the early age of 49.  He was able to control the disease at first, but as it progressed, he challenged himself to undergo deep brain stimulation in 2002.  Over the years, the tremors seemed manageable, however the disease quietly worked to control his body by limiting his ability to walk and speak.  He fought back for nearly thirty years, but sadly the disease took its final toll on November 1, 2022, at the age of 78.  For those who knew Dwight, some would say he was a man of few words; but his close friends knew him for his kindness, humor, fun and most notable to be mischievous.   

Dwight’s surviving family members are his brothers Grover (Linda) Pippin, Douglas (Phyllis) Pippin and sister-in-law Lorry Rubali-Pippin.  Grandchildren; Haley Pippin, JoAnna and JayLyn Pippin along with Lucas & Sydney Martinez.

A celebration of life for Dwight will be on April 20, 2023 at 3:00 pm at Devargas Funeral Home in Espanola, NM.