Vincent Keith Shortt passed away on Friday, March 29 at the age of 89. He was born on August 31, 1929 in Grundy, Virginia to Alexander Vincent Shortt and Carrie Josephine Neikirk Shortt. The youngest of ten children, he lived the first decades of his life in Virginia, attending school in Alexandria. Known as Uncle Keith by his Virginia family and Vince by his Arizona friends and family, he joined the U. S. Army Air Force Strategic Air Command, a forerunner of the U. S. Air Force, at twenty two years of age. After leaving the Air Force he settled in Tucson, Arizona where he worked in the surveying business and married his beloved wife, Ruth Moreno.
He was a kind man who enjoyed helping people. He liked to joke and loved making people laugh. One of his pastimes in recent years was watching old western movies and TV shows. Of his many favorite movies, Silverado stands out. And he was a fan of western TV series as well, like the long running show Gunsmoke. As the number one fan of all University of Arizona athletics; he watched whatever was in season. He was also an avid fan of the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team and the Arizona Cardinals football team, both of which he enjoyed watching with a friend.
He is preceded in death by his wife Ruth, his parents and his siblings: Paul Shortt, Thelma Clark, Elster Shortt, Alice Whitmer, Irma Sampson, Margaret Wallace, Quentin Shortt, Francis Kizer and Mae Merchant. Survivors include his step children and step grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank his caregivers: Ruth Ochotorena, Melanie Nuttall and Artimisa Marquez for their dedication and care over the years. Thanks also to Steve Latham for his friendship and generous support. We are grateful.
Services with military honors will be held at Funeraria del Angel South Lawn, 5401 South Park Ave., Tucson, Arizona on Wednesday, June 12 at 10:00 AM. Interment at South Lawn Cemetery.
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