Howard Jack Shipley

Howard Jack “Ship” Shipley, born November 11, 1915 in Tuttle, Oklahoma to James Calvin and May Burger Shipley died Monday, March 22, 2004 at the age of 88. The third of three children, Ship was preceded in death by his two older brothers, Chester and B.C. and by his first wife, Lucille Noble Shipley, who died on July 4, 1984. Ship is survived by three sons by his first wife, Lucille. These include Howard J. Shipley, Jr and wife Suzan and children Amber, Sten, Jeremy and Autumn, her husband Tom and son Keegan; James Robert Shipley, and John Charles Shipley and his wife Connie and children Kiley, Kacy, Chase and Spencer. Ship is survived by his second wife, Ruth Scott Shipley, and her children Laurie Madsen and children Becky Madsen, Greg and Lindsay Madsen, and Christie and Sal del Castillo; Gretchen and David Barnhart and their children Will, Ted and Jack Barnhart. After graduating from Tuttle High School, Ship attended Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater, Oklahoma (now known as OSU for you basketball fans). Ship then signed on as a cadet at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He was in the graduating class of 1938B and was one of fourteen surviving members. After leaving the Air Corp in 1938, he flew for Braniff Air Lines until 1940 when he re-entered the service to fly in WWII until 1946. Ship then left the service and went to Wichita, Kansas as chief test pilot for Beech Aircraft until 1948. In 1948, Ship moved to Lubbock, Texas to open the first Beechcraft dealership in west Texas to sell planes. In 1949, he participated in his first oil well and never looked back. He had been active in the oil and gas exploration business up to his death on March 22, 2004. His motivation was to be successful in the oil and gas industry. His passion was flying airplanes. His love was his family. Services to be held at the Lakeway Church on Thursday, March 25, 2004 at 1 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Salvation Army or charity of your choice. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78705 (512) 452-8811. You may view memorials online at wcfish.com