Dan Spears Shipley
Dan Spears Shipley, 82, died Dec. 19, 2011, in his home surrounded by family. He was born in Forney on May 21, 1929, to Frank Alexander Sr. and Beulah Virginia Spears Shipley.
He graduated from Forney High School in 1946 and attended Southern Methodist University on a football scholarship, playing with his football hero Doak Walker.
After graduating from SMU, he enlisted in the Air Force, serving for five years. He earned the rank of first lieutenant, flying 100 missions in Korea, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and Korean Service Medal. After the war, he trained pilots and logged more than 1,100 hours in an Air Force T6 training aircraft.
He met his wife Wilma Sue Maddox at an Abilene Christian College annual lectureship. They married June 13, 1954, in Sulphur Springs.
He managed retail stores for several years before going into the ministry full-time in the mid-1960s. His genuine love for the Lord moved him to devote the remaining portion of his life to preaching the gospel. His preaching journey included Churches of Christ in San Antonio; McAllen; Prescott, Ariz.; Burnet and Lindale. He retired from the pulpit in 2005 and continued to serve the congregation as a full-time elder until this past month.
The number of lives touched by his teaching and example are numerous. He frequented nursing homes and hospitals, not only to visit members of the local church, but anyone else who needed encouragement and prayers. He left a lasting legacy for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was an avid golfer and especially enjoyed watching his family coach and play football. He loved his family dearly and wanted all of them to be faithful Christians.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Wilma Maddox Shipley; son Ben Shipley and wife Sherry of Lindale and their children Mandy Riordan and husband Jeff of Sulphur Springs, Rob Shipley and wife Becca of Lindale and Jill Rodgers and husband Adam of Justin; daughter Julie Ebeling and husband Steve of Burnet and their daughters Kelly Dollar and husband Jeff of Burnet and Heidi Adams and husband Austin of Coppell; son Bob Shipley and wife Sharon of Brownwood and their children Jordan Shipley and wife Sunny of Cincinnati, Ohio, Shelby Shipley of Abilene, Jaxon Shipley of Austin and Addie Jane Shipley of Brownwood; son Stephen Shipley and wife Ashley and their children Hanner, Hailey, Hannidy and Hadley, all of Burnet; seven great-grandchildren; and brother Frank Shipley Jr. of Lufkin.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother S.A. Shipley.
The family requests memorial donations be made to one of the following nonprofit organizations:
• Zimbabwe Hunger Relief, Attn: James Beckley, 3415 Mount Tabor Road, Lakeland, FL 33810, with checks payable to: David Beckley, Account No. 2124460062 (relief); or contact mighty1jr@gmail.com for other arrangements.This organization benefits starving Christians in Africa.
• Seton Highland Lakes Hospice, P.O. Box 1219, Burnet, TX 78611.
The family thanks the hospice staff for their help and support during his illness.
A memorial service is 11 a.m. Dec. 21 at Burnet High School, located at U.S. 281 and The Green Mile Drive in Burnet. Interment will be private
Arrangements by Edgar Funeral Home, 109 N. Main St. in Burnet, (512) 756-4444.