Lawrence E. Shipley, 70, of Waco, went to be with his Heavenly Father on Monday, March 10th. A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 13th at Lake Shore Funeral Home, 5201 Steinbeck Bend in Waco. Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 14th at Central United Methodist Church, Hwy. 6 and Bagby Avenue in Waco. Reverend Carl Freeto will be officiating. This will be a closed casket service. There will be a reception held at the church, immediately following the services. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.lakeshorefuneralhome.com.
Larry was born April 22, 1937 in Lancaster, OH to Harold and Betty Shipley. He graduated from Ohio University; however, he was an avid Buckeye fan. He retired from the Department of the Navy after 42 loyal years of service.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Oneta Shipley of Waco; daughters: Renee Schilling of Waco, TX; Deanna Hollenback of Aquilla, TX; and Lori and husband, Darren Guidry of San Diego, CA; sons: Douglas Delfraisse of Virginia Beach, VA; Rick and wife Diane Delfraisse of Lufkin, TX. He was the proud grandfather of nine wonderful children – Michael, Jonathan, Jason, Stephen, Richard, Andy, Tiffany, Brooke, and Nathan. He is also survived by his sister Marcia Wiseman and nieces, Vicki Tauer and Valerie Smith.
Honorary Pallbearers will be his nine grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Print Obituary & Condolences
I’m sad to hear about Larry’s passing; fortunately, he has gone to be in a better place.
After I finished my service in the US Navy in 1998, Mr. Shipley was instrumental in my hiring atthe Naval Surface Warfare Center in Port Hueneme, CA.
I’m told that in his younger days, Larry was a "hell of an engineer". I can tell you from personal experience, he was also an exceptional manager of people. He was always willing to listen to the ideas and problems of younger engineers and technicians.
He was a very good man, and he will be missed.
Sincerely,
Alexei Schandl
Port Hueneme, California
I am very sorry for your loss. I always enjoyed my visits with Larry. As you know I am here to help when you are ready.
Larry,
It was great to know you at NSWSES. We had great times trying to thwart our supervisor Sarj Chima.
I did not know Larry Shipley. I worked at anchor hocking with his father for years. Sorry to hear the news.
Bob Van Linge
Lancaster, Ohio
I am so sorry to hear of your loss.
May he rest in peace.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time in need.
Life is sometimes short, live it to the fullest.
I know how it is to loose your "Daddy". Time heals but the past is always present..You will never forget you Daddy.
God bless,
Sincerely, Jenna Beth
Larry and I were classmates for many years and friends. He as a great guy and will be missed by all.
Donna Hughey Pandolf
Lancaster High – Class of ’55
Deanna, my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family for your loss.
My prayers are with you.
You all are in my thoughts and prayers. I know that this is a very difficult time for all of you and I want you to know that I love you all. Pops was like my own and the world has lost a very special person. He will be missed but never replaced or forgotten. If there is anything that my family can do you know that I will without any questions. Just remember that it will take time but the hurt will never go away but will ease with time. Just try to remeber all of the good times that you all shared and his little silly laugh. I will miss sitting with him at the house and listening to all of his wonderful stories. Pops you will be missed by all and i love all of yall
Larry and I worked at NSWSES for many years together. I always enjoyed our working relationship and considered him a good friend. I am saddened to learn of his passing and will include him in our prayers
I know that the only of the family that will recognise the name is Marcia because she always kept score for our baseball games back in the day when you picked up your team sponser coach,etc.I have very fond memories of those days and Larry.My condolences to all the family.And as an aside I too have Parkinson’s and have had for more than ten years.I have been very lucky because my symptoms hav e not progressed very much at all.
I have the fondest memories of Larry when we played basketball at LHS and many great times over of poker game… Aloha, and thoughts and prayers for the family.
Nita I am so sorry to hear about Larry. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. My deepest sympathy.
Love ya,
Kathe
Larry’s personality provided one of the constant values that we enjoyed in our working environment through the years. Mr. Shipley’s Tiger Team approach to system installations provided all of the challenges and adventure that an engineer could hope for. "Site Sierra, Over and Out."
Nita, I don’t know if you remember me we worked together at Laurel Springs. I am so sorry for your loss, I hope that you are doing well. Sharon Wood happened to send me an email. Take care.
Larry and I were ‘shipmates’ at NEMESIS during my entire career there, starting in 1971. My family sends its sincere condolences to the Shipley Family — we know Larry will be sorely missed. Fairs Winds and Following Seas!
My heart felt condolences go out to Larry’s entire family. His sister Marcia is my best friend and I know what a special relationship they shared. I had the wonderful pleasure of getting to know Larry when he visited Marcia in Lancaster, Ohio a few years ago. What a wonderful sense of humor he possessed. God Bless you always and particularly at this very difficult time.
I loved working with and for Larry through about ten years. He seemed more a good friend than a supervisor, although he was both. I’ll really miss him.
Our sincere and deepest sympathy to the family. May God give you peace and understanding.
Deanna and Renee,
I am so sorry for your loss
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your families in this time of need.If there is anything you need just let me know
While working for the Navy in the same organization as Larry, there were only one or two occasions when we worked together, and then very briefly. That was over twenty years ago, and I still recall how I was attracted to his easy going sense of humor and his penchant for getting to the nub of the matter. One of my fond memories. A good man.
Hi Nita – So sorry to read about Larry. I think of you often and miss our crazy times. Larry always seemed to get a kick out of our crazy times. Would love to hear from you when time is right. Love, Sharon & Herb
Deepest Sympathy
Our hearts are with you all at this time of loss. We are proud and grateful for the memories of working with Larry at Nemesis. He was respected and truly a gentleman. Hugs are sent your way. Always!
I remember Larry from Lancaster, Ohio. We lived right behind the Shipley family and used to play basketball in their back yard. Larry and his family lived on Front St and we lived on Whiley Ave. He was a year older than my older brother, Dave.
Sad to hear that Ship has left us to begin his final voyage. But I’m glad to have crossed his path on his last voyage. Though I remember his earlier days at NSMSES (he never quite got comfortable with NSWSES or PHD) mostly for his and Oneta’s great New Years Eve parties, I know that he was hard working and helping to make NSWSES history with his tiger teams. It was much later in his career that I got to know him as a boss and a friend, though not necessarily in that order. He was one of the most laid back and congenial folks I’ve ever worked with, and of course his quickness to laughter and his occasional jokes would always help get through the day. I think he loved working with all of us at Port Hueneme, and were it not for the rough go at the Ojai hospital, he probably would have stayed for couple more years.
I offer my heartfelt condolences to Oneta, Lori, Doug, and all of Larry’s family as I know they have lost a good husband, father, brother, grandfather, and uncle. And to Larry I say, goodbye Ship, it was good ride.