John Edwin Shapland

John Edwin Shapland was born in Magna, Utah, on August 30, 1923 to Alice and William Shapland. His parents emigrated to America from Swansea, Wales, a few years earlier. He was the youngest of nine children.

Raised in Lents, a thriving community in Southeast Portland, John enjoyed life in the big city. The neighborhood was full of adventure and challenges for children growing up during the Great Depression. Luckily, for John, he had a big brother, Len, and sister, Aileen, to help protect him from danger.

He went to Franklin High School, playing football and making many close friends. After high school, he followed his brother Len to Linfield College. World War II changed plans for most of America, including John, who left school and joined the Army, serving in England. He made the best of this experience, having fond memories of the air base he helped support and of England.

This was a time of Glenn Miller and big bands. Those that knew John know that he felt music began and ended here. Much of what he treasured during the rest of his life was rooted during the forties.

After the war, he returned to Linfield and then began a banking career with First National Bank of Oregon in Portland. About this time, while trying to visit another girl, he met Ruth Lindsey, who he later married in 1950. John liked to talk about how the January day they were married was the coldest day in Portland’s history. Together, Ruth and John raised five children, living in SW Portland, Hillsboro, Southeast Portland, and Forest Grove.

John’s career at First Interstate flourished, thanks to his hard work, and having Ruth at home to raise his children and to look after him. Among many roles at the bank, he served as an Assistant Cashier, Regional Loan Officer, Branch Manager, Senior Examiner, Assistant Vice President and Vice President with First National and First Interstate Banks. He achieved a Masters Degree from the University of Washington, as well, while working full time with the bank.

He and Ruth retired in 1985, moving from Forest Grove to Tigard. They enjoyed their free time, family and each other during their years together. As Ruth’s health began to fail, John became a full time caregiver for her. Providing her with the same devotion that she had provided him with for over forty-nine years. After a long illness, she passed away in 1999.

John moved to a retirement community in Tigard shortly, where he was able to revive old friendships and gain closer ties with family. During this time, he travelled on several cruises, visited Europe and Canada.

John never looked his age and was always taken for a much younger man. He liked to take walks to stay active and even ventured out late at night to visit the girls at Shari’s. Once in a while he would forget his keys, and his friends would help him out.

Luckily, it was only in recent months that John’s health began to fail. He would be the first to admit that he lived a full life, and at 88 years, felt he was ready for a rest.

John will be missed by his children, grandchildren and close friends that knew and loved him.

John is survived by his sons, John (Anne) of Portland, Mark (Kathy) of Forest Grove, Oregon and Paul (Lotte) of Hillsboro, Oregon, daughters, Gayle Thomas (Bob) of Beaverton, Oregon, Mary van Hilten (Mark) of Bend, Oregon, fourteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.