Irving "Irv" P. Shipman
Irving "Irv" P. Shipman
Irving "Irv" P. Shipman, 68, a longtime resident of Moses Lake, Washington, passed away unexpectedly while at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital on Saturday, November 3, 2012, surrounded by his loving family.
Irv was born on September 14, 1944 in Cooperstown, New York to Lysle and Marion Shipman. Irv had three brothers and two sisters, he was the youngest of six. Irv's family moved around a lot while he was growing up. He lived in many different towns as a child, West Exeter, NW, Schuyler Lake, NY, until finally settling in the town of West Winfield.
On January 16, 1962, at the young age of 17 years old, Irv enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He then served 6 years of active duty in the Marine Corps. During that time he spent 14 months overseas fighting for his country during the Vietnam War. He received many medals of honor, and then on January 15, 1968, he was Honorably Discharged. Irv was very proud of the time he served in the Marine Corp and everything it stood for. He was very proud to be a Marine and a Patriotic American, as well as an awarded Vietnam Veteran.
He met and married the love of his life, Helen Searle (Daughter of Ernest and Nora Searle), in Rochester, NY. The couple was married on February 15, 1969, in Ontario, New York, and have been happily married for 43 (almost 44) years. The couple first made their home in Rochester, NY until after the birth of their second daughter, they then moved to Anacortes, Washington in the spring of 1973. In 1975, only two weeks after their son was born, they made the moved back across country to Rochester, NY. In the spring of 1979 they had decided that they should have stayed in Washington, so once again they packed up and moved back to Anacortes, Washington. This time they stayed in Anacortes until March of 1984 when a business opportunity took them to Moses Lake, Washington where they made their home for the remainder of Irv's life.
Irv worked as a mechanic for Woodard's Automotive, Mike's Rental and Machinery Inc., Midway Beverage, and Cenex. He retired at the age of 63.
Irv loved the outdoors; he loved camping, fishing, and hunting with his family whenever he had free time. He also loved spending time with his grandchildren. Irv loved a good joke and he had a lot of good stories to share with his friends and family. He had many great friends and loved all the good times and memories he shared with them during "Happy hour" downtown. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend to all who knew him and will be greatly missed by all of us.
Irv is survived by his wife Helen Shipman, daughter Nora and husband Gary Bowman, daughter Helen and husband Jason Pilling, and son Lyle and wife Jennifer Shipman. Irv had six surviving grandchildren: Jennifer and husband Derek Ball, Lelia and Tiffany Shipman, Kasey, Mason, and Aaron Pilling. Irv also had four surviving great grandchildren: Carter and Hollyanne Ball, Braiden and Bentlee Pilling. He is also survived by his brother, Gerald and wife Dawn Shipman and sister, Janice and husband Glenn Holberton. Irv is preceded in death by both of his parents, Lysle and Marion Shipman, two brothers, Jim and William (Bill) Shipman, and one sister, Mary Kunzer.
Services to celebrate his life will be in care of Susan Freeman of Pioneer Memorial Services (formerly Benson's) at 104 W. 5th Ave., Moses Lake, WA, on Saturday, November 17 at 3:00 pm. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Trust Account set up at Sterling Savings Bank to help with unexpected expenses.