On Friday May 8, 2026, Robert Gary “Dusty” Shipp went home to be with our Lord, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born on November 7, 1953 in Washington, DC to Donald Wesley Shipp Sr and Opal Lucile (Dusenberry) Shipp.
Dusty, as his family and friends called him, grew up in Prince George’s County, MD. He graduated from Potomac Senior High School in Oxon Hill, MD. He had many Aunts and Uncles on his Mom and Dad’s sides of the family including many cousins who he was very close with. He spent a lot of his childhood with his cousin John A. (Jackie) Dix, they grew up like brothers. Dusty was an avid Redskins fan and he went to many games with his Uncle Paul who had season passes.
When Dusty was younger he worked as a pipe coverer with the Union, he worked as a roofer with his brother until finding his niche as a salesman at Martin Brothers and Associates with his friend Wayne Abell. In 1992, he went out on his own and started his own company, Shipp Data Supplies Inc. He started his business in his shed and went on to open an office in La Plata, MD, where his company flourished.
Dusty enjoyed playing golf, playing guitar (he was in a band when he was a teenager), fishing, taking his family and friends out on his boat on the Potomac River, watching football, having quite the DVD collections he loved watching movies(old and new) cooking and eating crabs, going on vacations with his family and just being present with his family. His family was his entire world and he was and still is our entire world.
On May 21, 1983 he married the love of his life, Victoria Marie (Delgado) Shipp. Together they built a beautiful life with 2 children and 7 grandchildren and many close family and friends that they consider family.
Dusty enjoyed coaching soccer and football for his son and his son’s friends. He always had a van full of boys on the weekends taking them to and from games. He treated them like they were family. He was always a fixture at his daughter’s dance recitals. Cheering her on from the crowd. His children were the light of his world. They always felt unconditional love from their Dad. He was always there to support them and teach them. In the years to come grandchildren were born and he absolutely adored all of them. He loved going to soccer/basketball/football games of his grandsons where he could be heard cheering from the stands. He loved going to his granddaughters T-ball games. In the past 6 years he enjoyed giving his youngest grandkids rides on his wheelchair. They enjoyed it as much as he did.
Dusty will be remembered for his love of Jesus, his generous spirit, his love of family, his strength through life’s difficulties and the humor and laughter that was infectious around him. His name “Robert” means bright fame, or shining glory reflecting biblical themes as living as light in the darkness. Dad lived just like that. He was a light in the darkness. His spirit was always beaming. He always kept us smiling and laughing.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Donald Shipp Sr and Opal Shipp, his sister, Sandra Fallon and brother in law James Fallon.
Dusty is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 43 years, Victoria Marie Shipp of California, MD. His children: Katelyn Marie Austin (Timmy) of Colonial Beach, VA and Kevin Robert Shipp (Paige) of Mechanicsville, MD. He was known as Gramps/Match/Namps to his beloved grandchildren: Jordan, Joshua, Jaxden, Jaide, Natalie, Ayden and Landen. His brother, Donald Wesley Shipp Jr. (Lorraine) and many nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.
The family will receive friends for a viewing on May 26, 2026 from 4pm-6pm at Brinsfield Funeral Home in Leonardtown, MD. The service will be held at New Life in La Plata, MD on May 27, 2026. Times will be disclosed VERY SOON!
Burial will take place at Trinity Memorial Gardens in Waldorf, MD in the Garden of Gethsemane next to his mother, Opal Shipp.
Pallbearers will be Kevin Shipp, Timmy Austin, Jordan Gilyeat Jr, Joshua Brown, Jacob Myers and Carl Brown Jr.
Honorary pallbearers are Donald W. Shipp Jr, John A. Dix, Wayne Abell, Steve Murray.
In lieu of flowers, family has requested contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, https://www.stjude.org/donate/ or 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.
Condolences to the family may be made through www.brinsfieldsfuneral.com.Â
Arrangements by Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.
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