Samuel "Tom" Shipley Jr.'s Obituary
Samuel Thomas Shipley, Jr., of Gambrills, MD and Lost River, WV died at home surrounded by his family on November 11, 2015. He was 83 years old.
Tom is survived by his wife, Mary Elizabeth McGuire and his children, Samuel Thomas Shipley, III of Hanover, PA, Cecilia Marie Therres of Hampstead, MD, and Ann Kelly Kirwan of Rock Hall, MD; and his grandchildren, Adam Louis Therres, Alyson Regina Hilton, and Samuel Thomas Shipley, IV; and his great-granddaughters Ella Catherine Therres and Cali Elizabeth King. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lois Regina Shipley (née McGronan).
Tom was born on May 25, 1932 in Baltimore, MD to Lillian and Samuel Shipley. Tom graduated from Calvert Hall High School in 1950. He enlisted in the Army upon graduation and was extremely proud to be a member of the 101st Airborne Division serving in the Korean War. After his honorable discharge, he married Lois McGronan and they raised their three children in Catonsville, MD where Tom spent many years coaching youth basketball. Tom had a 23-year career as a building contractor in the concrete industry. In 1991, Tom married Mary McGuire and they built a home on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Tom and Mary move to Gambrills in 2008. Tom loved his family above all else. A close second was his love for the mountains of West Virginia. He fostered this love at his cabin in Lost River. Tom spent many years at the cabin enjoying the camaraderie of fellow hunters and sharing the mountains with his family. Tom was a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a great-grandfather; he was a friend, a hunter, a joker, and a lover of life.
Tom passed away peacefully at home after a long illness. He will be remembered as a loving family man, a proud veteran, and an avid fan of the West Virginia mountains.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, November 14th, 2015 at Lasting Tributes, 814 Bestgate Rd, Annapolis MD. The family will accept visitors from 10am-11:30am. The service will begin at 11:30am with a reception immediately following at the home of Tom’s stepdaughters at 1505 Augusta Way, Crofton, MD 21114. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Tom's life. It was Tom’s wish that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.
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