Frank Dean Shipps, 81, died Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at Minneola Long Term Care, Minneola, Kansas.
He was born June 18, 1941, at Dighton, Kansas, the son of Merle and Naomi (Wright) Shipps. He graduated from Dodge City High School in 1960. After graduating he worked as a custom cutter with his father and then enlisted into the United States Navy from July 1960 to 1964. He served during the Vietnam War and Cuban Missile Crisis on the USS Independence CVA-62. He was a Machinist Mate Operator on the ship. Throughout his life he had many jobs; he worked for the State Road Department and Farmland both in Dodge City; AGIUM - US Inc., Nikiski, Alaska and ARCO, Kuparuk, Alaska where he worked as an operator in the oil field industry. He then “retired” but decided that he could not sit still and took up some part time jobs and ended up at the Dodge City Public Library from 2014 until present, where he was lovingly called “Grandpa Frank."
Frank was a member and served on the vestry of the St. Cornelius Episcopal Church and was a member of the VFW Post #1714 both in Dodge City. He was a faithful Salvation Army volunteer serving on the board for many years.
On March 4, 1961, he married Mary Claire Wickes at St. Cornelius Episcopal Church in Dodge City, Kansas. She survives.
Survivors also include: 2 sons, William Shipps, Kenai, Alaska and Scott Shipps, Dodge City; a daughter, Jennifer Shipps, Dodge City; Grandchildren, Jessica Shipps and fiancé Austin “AJ” Welch, Markayla Shipps, Courtney Shipps, and one grandson; a nephew, John Jenkinson and wife Jana; and a niece, Joy Giessel and husband George.
He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 sisters, Della Jenkinson and Amelita Miller and one brother, Wayne McCoy.
Funeral Service will be Monday, January 23, 2023, at 10:00 am at Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City with Fr. John Seatvet presiding. Burial will follow at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery, Ft. Dodge, with full Military Honors by the United States Navy and the American Legion District 8. Visitation will be Sunday from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Ziegler Funeral Chapel with family present from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
The family suggests memorials to the Kansas Honor Flight in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.