SYRACUSE – Richard F. Shipley Sr., 77, of Cromwell, died Nov. 6, 2011, in his residence.
He was born Dec. 25, 1933, in Fort Wayne, to Ralph L. and Elenor E. Stellhorn Shipley. On Aug. 22, 1953, in Fort Wayne, he married Opal L. Evans, who died in December 1980.
He graduated from North Side High School, Fort Wayne, in 1952. He moved to the Syracuse area from Fort Wayne in 1966 and lived briefly in Leesburg, Fla. He served in the U.S. Navy Reserves and was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Oshkosh, Wis. He retired in 1975 from the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette after 25 years of service. He also worked as a purchasing agent in the manufacturing industry in Northern Indiana.
Surviving are three daughters: Roxanne (and spouse Jack) McMahan, St. Augustine, Fla.; Renee (and spouse Tony) Laws, Granger; and Rhonda (and spouse Derrick) Peacock, Middlebury; five sons: Richard (and spouse Valerie) Shipley Jr., Rob Shipley and Rex (and spouse Shirley) Shipley, all of Cromwell; Randy (and spouse Clarissa) Shipley; Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; and Roger (and spouse Nancy) Shipley, Goshen; 27 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; a sister, Norma (and spouse Edward) Peterson, Fort Wayne; and two brothers, Norman (and spouse Cara) Shipley, New Haven, and Steven (and spouse Kim) Shipley, Fort Wayne. He was preceded in death by a sister.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Owen Family Funeral Home, Syracuse, with the Rev. Harlan Steffen officiating. Burial will be in Syracuse Cemetery.
Calling is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
***** Memorials may be given to the American Cancer Society, 601 W. Edison Road, Mishawaka, IN 46545.
Condolences may be sent via www.owenfamilyfuneralhome.com
