Wray Underwood Shipley

Wray Shipley died in his sleep at the age of 90 on April 3, 2011. He was born on Nov. 8, 1920, in Elkins, West Va. to the late Samuel and Leona Shipley. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 60 years, Esther Andrews Shipley and his three brothers, Charles, Erwin, and Bill.
Survivors include, a son Glen (Mary) Shipley, and three daughters: Carrol (George)Smith;Sandra (Tom Lowell); and Sherril Shipley as well as 5 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
As a boy he roamed the hills of West Va. playing cowboy and Indians, stage coach robbers, and swimming in the Coal River. He got his first barber shop hair cut at age 16 and paid twenty cents for it.
In high school he worked in a chemical factory and decided to become a chemical engineer, but WWII erupted and he joined the Army Air core and trained as a navigator. As a Lieutenant, he flew 50 bombing missions on a B-17 over Africa and Italy. Although he had many adventures as well as hardships he felt that he didn't do anything that any other American soldier would not have done. He donated his mission records to the Air Force Museum in Dayton. and considered himself to be one of the luckiest men in the world.
After the war he obtained a degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University. He worked for General Electric until retirement helping develop microwave telemetry for the defense department.
He was an amateur painter and avid golfer. In his retirement he donated many hours using his computer skills to help others.

Visitation will be 9:00 am and services at 10:00 am, April 6, 2011 at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory.
Contributions may be made to the National Museum of the United States Air Force, 1100 Spaatz Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH 45433