Obituary of Sherfey Tipton Randolph

Sherfey Tipton “Tip” Randolph, 86 of Freehold died Thursday, November 13, 2008 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in North Manchester, Indiana, and was raised at Ashville Farm School (Warren Wilson College) outside of Asheville, North Carolina. He attended Maryville College enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942. He has been a resident of Freehold since 1946. He managed the family farm in Freehold Township until it was sold in 1956. During his time on the farm he was an active member of the Grange, Freehold Township. Mr. Randolph served during World War Two as a glider pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corp as a part of the 80th Troop Carrier Squadron, 436th Troop Carrier Group obtaining the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He participated in the airborne invasions of Normandy, Southern France, Holland and Germany. He also served as a navigator on C-47 supply and medical evacuation missions. He was awarded the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three campaign stars with Arrowhead device for airborne operations, the Netherlands Military Order of William for participation in the airborne assault of Holland, the American Campaign Medal and the European Victory Medal. He along with his unit was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation. Mr. Randolph was a member of the World War Two National Glider Pilot Association since its inception in 1971, serving as National Commander in 1974. He has been a member of the Executive Council and National Secretary since 1974. He had served on the Board of Directors of the Silent Wings Museum and/ or Foundation since 1985. Mr. Randolph worked for C.H. Roberson and Trico Equipment in Freehold Township until his retirement in 1990. Mr. Randolph was a member of the Freehold Township Lion’s Club for over 50 years, serving terms as the President and Secretary of the organization. He was predeceased by his wife, Virginia Bowen Randolph in 2006. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Tipton C. and Shirley Randolph, Freehold; a daughter and son-in-law, Virginia and Terry Collins, Silver Spring, Maryland; a brother, George Randolph, Black Mountain, North Carolina; two sisters, June Henderson of Ashville, North Carolina; and Barbara Trent, Dover, Delaware; two grandchildren, Captain Joshua T. Randolph, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., and Karen E. Marica, Baltimore, Maryland. Services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia at a later date. Donations in his memory to Silent Wings Museum Foundation, Attn: Emil Douglas Flynn, 3501 40th Street, Snyder, Texas 79549 would be appreciated. Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold is in charge of arrangements.