Willard L Shinn

Willard L. Shinn, 73, a longtime resident of Labette County, Kansas, died unexpectedly at 10:22 A.M. on Thursday, June 21, 2007 at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. He was born August 7, 1933 at New Albany, Kansas, the son of Jack S. and Rena G. (Ritter) Shinn. Willard graduated from Fredonia High School in 1950. After graduation, he was employed by the Kansas State Highway Department. Following this, he worked for the Beechcraft aircraft company in Wichita, Kansas. He accepted a position with the Continental Can Company and married Shirley J. Cook of Coffeyville, Kansas in March of 1952. He obtained a Journeyman electrician certificate in 1954 while working full-time as a production foreman for Continental Can. His two children, Willard and Karen, were born in Coffeyville. In 1963, he accepted a position with the Boeing aircraft company in Wichita and achieved the position of Quality Control supervisor. He accepted a position as production foreman at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in 1967 and enjoyed a series of exceedingly challenging assignments including Director of Operations from 1979 through 1987. Willard assumed the position of President of Chem Fab Inc., in Hot Springs, Arkansas in 1988 and retired in 1990. Willard was an active sportsman and enjoyed archery, basketball, water skiing, bowling, hunting and fishing. He enjoyed horse racing; owning, training and racing thoroughbred horses while living in Hot Springs. His survivors include: One son & daughter-in-law: Willard and Pamela Shinn of Medina, TN One daughter: Karen K. (Shinn) Rutherford of Broken Arrow, OK Five grandchildren: Tiffany Stokes of Parsons, KS Ashley Shinn of Medina, TN Heather Munoz of Broken Arrow, OK Robyn Rutherford of Broken Arrow, OK Allison Moore of Broken Arrow, OK Three brothers: Jack Shinn, Jimmy Shinn and Rodger Shinn, all of Fredonia, KS Four great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Carson Ray Shinn. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday, June 26, 2007, at the Fredonia City Cemetery with Rev. Shirley Harkness officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday, 6:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M. A memorial has been established in his name with the Fredonia Regional Hospital Building Fund and may be sent to the funeral home.