Edna Cooper Hipp of Paducah, Ky., passed away on Thursday, August 23rd.

It was a sudden illness and death, which meant that she didn’t experience any pain. At the very end, she slipped away while being held by her youngest son, Cooper. Appropriately, he had placed a tennis ball in her right hand and told her that it was time to go and, at 6:15 p.m., she did.

While ill, she was constantly surrounded by her family: her husband, Gene Carl Hipp of Paducah; brother, George William Cooper and his wife Joan of Paducah; sister, Doris Boswell and her husband Tom of Paducah; niece, Julie DuPerrieu of Paducah, and niece, Katherine Boswell of Smithland. Her wonderful friends rushed to her side as well: Benny, Judy, Marsha, Robin, Vicky, Janie, Barbara, Mike, Angie and countless others.

She was loved by so many people. First and foremost was her husband of 52 years, Gene. With them, you never knew where one ended and the other one began. In the end, their love was as strong as it was when they were high school sweethearts. For her sons, George Cooper Hipp of Minneapolis, Minn., and Gene Paul Hipp of Delray Beach, Fla., and grandson, Paul Andrew Hipp of Wallingford, Conn., she was their strength and support. “This too shall pass” is what she would always say in tough times and, as usual, she was right.

For her tennis friends, she was their mentor and cheerleader — rooting them all the way to the Volvo National Tennis Championship in 1988. It was one of many feathers in her cap.

Many words come to mind when thinking about Edna: loyalty, courage, and tenacity are a few. But “love” rises above all the others. She loved her family from the depths of her beautiful soul and loved her friends as deep as Kentucky Lake. Edna was not just a champion tennis player. She was a champion every day of her life. Forever, we will draw from our having known and loved her. Hopefully, because of that, each and every one of us will walk forward in life as a better person. Game, Set and Match to Edna Hipp.

Visitation will be held at Grace Episcopal Church on Monday, August 27th, between the hours of 2 to 4 p.m. with a short service immediately following. Rev. Richard Paxton will officiate.

Milner & Orr will be handling the funeral arrangements. Family requests contributions to be made to Roses for Autism, 929 Boston Post Road, Guilford, CT 06437. You may leave a message or light a candle at www.millnerandorr.com.