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Richard Christian Shenk Devoted Family Man and Christian Richard Christian Shenk passed away in the early morning hours of November 21, 2008 in the loving company of his family as soft snow fell outside their Erie home. Richard â€" Dick to his many friends and neighbors - was born in Medford, Mass. on May 2, 1924, the son of the late Anna Pinney Shenk and Francis Duncan Shenk. Dick moved to Erie with his mother and brother Bob in 1939 where he graduated from Academy High School in 1942. He attended Fenn College in Cleveland until February 1943 when he entered the military to fight in World War II. During the war he served in the Army Air Corp as the aerial engineer of the Z4, a C-47 transport based in England and later France. He flew glider towing, paratroop drop and fuel supply missions in support of General George S. Patton’s assault through Germany. At the end of the War in Europe he was stationed at the air base in Frankfurt, Germany until his return to the United States in January, 1945. He was awarded the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater Service Medal with three bronze stars for his service in the war. Upon returning to Erie, he married Mildred Schumacher of Erie on October 19, 1946, whom he had met at the Sunday School at Chestnut Street Presbyterian Church in 1939. He worked at Riley Stoker (the former Union Iron Works) in Erie starting on January 20, 1947 until his retirement on May 15, 1989. He began his career at Union Iron with a job in the storeroom, and eventually held the positions of Layout Man, Foreman, Cost Analyst, Superintendent, and Manufacturing Manager. Dick was a very active member of Wayside Presbyterian Church where he served as a Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, Deacon, Elder, and Trustee, and served on many committees, including a Pastor Search Committee. He attended Sunday School and Sunday Morning Worship Service regularly. He was physically active his entire life and enjoyed golf, softball, swimming and biking as well as woodworking. He seemed to be able to fix anything. Every summer Dick took his family on a camping trip to Vermont where he loved to hike through the forest. He was a great campfire builder. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his sisters Pauline Cole and Ruth Healy and brothers Norman Shenk, Duncan Shenk and Robert Shenk He is survived by his wife of sixty-two years Mildred Shenk of Erie, children Barbara and Dan McGill of Erie, Sandra and Doug Godfrey of Woodbridge, Va. and Debora and Chuck Niederriter of Saint Peter, Minn.; his grandchildren Douglas and Christina Godfrey of Marine Naval Air Station New River, North Carolina, Michael McGill of Alexandria Court House, Va., Brian and Staci McGill of Erie, Matthew McGill also of Erie, and Bradley, Robert, Joseph, Timothy, and Gretchen Niederriter, all of Saint Peter, Minn.; and his great-grandchildren Alan and Donna Godfrey of New River Air Station. Friends may call at the Burton Westlake Funeral Home 3801 West 26th St. (at Powell Ave.) on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. and are invited to attend services at Wayside Presbyterian Church on Wednesday at 11a.m. with the Rev. James Hass and Rev. Keith Sundberg officiating. Burial in Erie Cemetery The family wishes to extend their deep appreciation to Great Lakes Home Hospice and their many friends for the love and support they provided to Dick and his family. Memorials in his name may be made to Wayside Presbyterian Church 1208 Asbury Rd, Erie, PA 16505 or Great Lakes Home Hospice 1700 Peach St., Erie, PA 16501. Send Condolences at www.Burtonfuneralhome.com. Sign the guestbook at www.GoErie.com/obits
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1924 - 2008 (84 years) Has no ancestors but 12 descendants in this family tree.
