Willis Martin SHINKLE

SHINKLE, SCHAEFER, LAMOREAUS, FERGUSON, ROLL, RUTAN, MCBRIDE, DUNSON, REISNER, MCREARY, GREGG, WARIN

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/9/2009 at 03:21:38

OBITUARY - WILLIS MARTIN SHINKLE

Willis Martin SHINKLE was the second son born to Clarence and Inez (SCHAEFER) SHINKLE, on July 3, 1921 in Franklin County, Ohio. [He died at the age of 85 on June 20, 2007, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa.] Willie was raised on a farm near Rushsylvania with his parents, three sisters, and two brothers. The brothers often brought out guitars and loved to play gospel music, until Willie’s brother, Ralph, was struck with polio. He loved music as a young man and carried that love to his family.

Willie graduated from Rushsylvania High School in 1941, married in 1943, and fathered five children. He worked for Whirlpool Corporation for twenty years as an electrical technician. In addition, he attended a two year trade school for electrical and refrigeration, and became self-employed, wiring and repairing many farm sites in Ohio and Iowa.

On October 16, 1959, after a whirlwind romance, Willie and Faith (LAMOREAUS) FERGUSON were married by Faith’s father, a former mail carrier in Ringgold County, Rev. Alvin LAMOREAUS. Willie and Faith blended their families together creating a busy and musical household. With most of the family, Willie orchestrated a gospel singing tour through parts of Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, and Iowa. He recorded the performances and Faith trained and organized the music along with playing the piano.

With only two teenage daughters still living with them in Ohio, Willie and Faith moved to Iowa in 1970 and opened the business of “Shinkle’s Repair.” Ten years later, Willie and Faith retired to Golden, Missouri in the Ozarks. Due to Willie’s illness, they returned to Mount Ayr in the summer of 2004 to be closer to family.

His parents, Clarence and Inez SHINKLE, two sisters Helen SHINKLE and Alice ROLL, and one brother Ralph, preceded Willie in death.

Willie was father to seven children; RoseAnn (Rev. Tom) RUTAN of Chesterfield, South Carolina, David (Verna) SHINKLE of Findlay, Ohio, Daryl (Judy) SHINKLE of Roswell, New Mexico, Reba McBRIDE of Fort Worth, Texas, Charity DUNSON and Kathy REISNER, both of Lima, Ohio, Rick SLADE (Jennifer) of East Liberty, Ohio, Carol Anne (Jim) McCREARY of Mount Ayr, IA, Robert R. (Lanelle) FERGUSON of Memphis, Tennessee, Harlie (Jo Ann) FERGUSON of Austin, Texas, Joyce (Ronnie) GREGG of Mount Ayr, IA, and Grace (Mike) WARIN of Mount Ayr, IA. Willie was step-father to five children, grandpa to twenty-eight grandchildren, great grandpa to thirty-two, great great grandpa to one. This host of family and friends are all left to cherish his memory, along with Faith, his loving wife of 47 years.

Willie gave his life to the Lord, while living and working in Omaha and helping to care for his mother-in-law Mavia LAMOREAUS. He treasured his family and they were the foundation for his happiness. His life revolved around his love for his work, his family, gospel music, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

A memorial fund has been established in the name of Willis SHINKLE.