Retired Air Force Master Sgt. William Morris Lipham, 73, of Arnold, died of cancer, Dec. 31, at his home after a five-year illness.

Sgt. Lipham was born May 29, 1932, in Cullman, Ala., reared in LaGrange, Ga., and resided in Heard County, Ga. He entered the Air Force June 2, 1949, After basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, he was assigned to duty stations in Biloxi, Miss.; San Antonio, Texas; and Germany, Libya, England, Scotland, Italy, Taiwan, the island of Crete and Fort Meade. His last assignment was with the 6970th Air Base Group with the Air Force Security Service.

He received the Joint Service Commendation Medal from the National Security Agency, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Longevity Service Award with five Oak Leaf Clusters and the Good Conduct Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters.

He earned a bachelor of science degree from the School of Business at the University of Baltimore in 1978 and was a member of Delta Mu Delta, the national honor society in business administration.

He retired July 1, 1975, after working as a radio communications analysis superintendent.

A 32nd degree Mason, he was a member of the Scottish Rite, the Elks, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. His interests included genealogy, stamp collecting and reading.

Surviving are his wife, Doreen Lipham; one son, Wayne Lipham of Hanover; one sister, Dorothy Wynn of MacClenny, Fla; and two grandchildren.

Visitation is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. tomorrow at Barranco and Sons Severna Park Funeral Home, where services will be at 7:30 p.m., and at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville followed by burial.

Contributions can be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 445 Defense Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401, in lieu of flowers. Online condolences may be made to www.barrancofuneralhome.com.