Obituary

Fred L. Shipman, 86, precious husband and loving father, went to be with his Lord, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004, at Plainview Healthcare Center. He will be greatly missed by those whose many lives he touched. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Lemons Funeral Home Chapel. Pastor Mark Leach of Harvest Community Fellowship and the Rev. Don Robertson of College Heights Baptist Church will officiate. A military graveside service will follow at Plainview Memorial Cemetery. Fred was born to Paul and Elizabeth Shipman at Goldthwaite, Texas, March 6, 1918. He married Leota Marie Skirlock on Nov. 12, 1938. Fred entered the Navy in April 1944 and served under Adm. "Bull" Hulsey in the Pacific Theater. He was in the amphibian troop deployment transporting men from ship to shore. He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 5399, where he served in many capacities, including post commander and chaplain. He was also a member of the American Legion. Fred retired from Green Machinery in 1982. He was a member of the Hi-Plains Gem and Mineral Society where he served in many capacities, his favorite being R.O.L.E. chairman and going to the area elementary schools to teach children about rocks. He was also a member of the Rolling Rock Club, Southwest Gem and Mineral Federation, and the American Gem and Mineral Federation. He was a Master Lapadarist, receiving many awards and having some of his work displayed in the Texas Capitol, Wayland Baptist University and the Smithsonian Institute. He also worked closely with the Earth Science Department at Wayland Baptist University. He was a member of the Plainview Bass Club, the men's coffee bunch at the Nu-Griddle and Harvest Christian Fellowship. He is survived by his wife of 66 years; two sons and daughters-in-law; Fred and Emily Shipman of Brewster, N.Y., and Bobby and Kitty Shipman of Plainview; two daughters and one son-in-law, Bettie Davis of Stratford and Dyann and Melvin Shull of San Angelo; one brother, Perry Shipman of Santee, Calif.; four sisters, Alice Huckabee of Big Spring, Mary Holmes and Pauline Thompson of Valley Mills, and Lila Lee Kneschek of Burleson; 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; many loving nieces and nephews; and all his "family" at Plainview Healthcare Center. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. today at Lemons Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Vista Care Hospice or "Kid City" at Harvest Christian Fellowship.