Mr. Clyde Esmond “Trippy” Lotspeich III, a unique and mighty fine fellow, of Parksley, passed away peacefully at home on July 11, 2026.
Born on March 27, 1945, in Philadelphia, Pa., he was the son of the late Clyde E. Lotspeich Jr. and Jean Brown Lotspeich. The Lotspeiches moved to Trippy’s beloved Eastern Shore when he was a young boy, and it was a perfect match for him as he learned how to enjoy the outdoors from his grandfather and his friends.
Trippy was a graduate of Parksley High School and attended the University of Richmond before serving his country in the U.S. Navy. He worked for Bell Atlantic and Verizon and was a member of Zion Baptist Church. He enjoyed being Dad, Papa Trip, and Uncle Trippy to his sons and their wives, his grandchildren, and all his nieces, nephews, and neighbors.
He enjoyed being outside and, in his later years, sitting on his front porch with his devoted wife, Geneva, watching the neighbors’ children grow up. He was very handy and, according to his sons, could fix anything. There are countless stories about his sons trying to fix something at home or on a car, lawn mower, etc., and, when they hit a wall, it was time to call Dad. He enjoyed picking on them after helping to resolve the situation, and they enjoyed the banter.
He appreciated his friends and he had many. Some of his closest friends were his Bell Atlantic coworkers, who referred to themselves as the “Bell’s Angels.” Many afternoons and evenings were spent in his garage hanging out with whomever stopped by, and that was always one of his favorite pastimes. He had an easygoing, positive personality, and he was always looking for a good time — most of the time he found it or created it.
Trippy is survived by his wife of 56 years, Geneva; his sons, Walt Lotspeich (Natalie), of Halifax; Russ Lotspeich (Clare), of Powhatan; and Alan Lotspeich (Ariana), of Accokeek, Md.; his sisters, Nancy Kluis, of Onley and Barbara Peery (John), of Norfolk; his grandchildren, Leah, Evelyn, and Bryce; and several cousins, nieces, nephews, and special neighbors whom he loved as his own family.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 25, at 2 p.m. at Zion Baptist Church.
Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to Eastern Shore Community College ESCC Foundation, 29316 Lankford Highway, Melfa, VA, 23410, Memo: Nursing Scholarship IMO Clyde Lotspeich, https://es.vccs.edu/escc-foundation/donate/, Choose Other and Note: Nursing Scholarship IMO Clyde Lotspeich; Marietta College Men’s Lacrosse, https://www.marietta.edu/support-mens-lacrosse, or the St. Mary’s County Public Schools Music Program, St. Mary’s County Public Schools, Attn: Fiscal Services, 23160 Moakley St., Suite 107, Leonardtown, MD 20650.
Arrangements are by the Thornton Funeral Home in Parksley.
To sign the guest book online, visit: www.thorntonfuneralhome.net
