Nov. 17, 1929 - March 12, 2010
Robert E. Shanks, 80, of Montgomery and formerly of Kokomo, passed away at 11:18 a.m. Friday, March 12, 2010, at his residence in Montgomery. He was born Nov. 17, 1929, in Kokomo, to the late William Jaybird and Florence Pearl (Hyde) Shanks. Robert was first married to Mary Lois (Clark), who passed away Feb. 3, 1961; he also married Dorothy O. (Crawford), and then married Joann (Sutton), and she passed away Dec. 3, 2007.
Robert graduated from Kokomo High School and served in the National Guard. He was employed as a bindery superintendent at Cuneo Press and retired in 1990 after 27 years of service at Chrysler, where he was a job-setter. His memberships included Aikman Creek Baptist Church in Daviess County, of which he was a deacon, and United Auto Workers Local 685, of which he was past union president. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, belonging to the North American Fish Club and Pike County Bird Hunters Club.
Surviving are four sons and two daughters-in-law, Jack Garwood, Kokomo, Robert M. and Deborah Shanks, Griffith, Bruce E. Shanks, Daviess County, Daniel J. and Carey Shanks, Kokomo; one daughter, Sherry Glaze, Kokomo; three stepdaughters and two step-sons-in-law, Veda and Allen Popelka, Kokomo, Ronda and Russell Adolph, Florida, Page Basicker, Russiaville; two stepsons and a one step-daughter-in-law, Kirk DeWeese, New Orleans, Eric and Melissa DeWeese, Kokomo; 18 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; four sisters and two brothers-in-law, Marilyn and Ron Willet, Florida, Doris and Robert Campbell, Kokomo, Janine Harless, Kokomo, and Donna Surbey, Kokomo; two brothers and one sister-in-law, Larry Shanks, Valparaiso, Jim and Sharon Shanks, Ocala, Fla., and a sister-in-law, Martha Shanks.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Deborah Susan McKay; stepson, Roger Guthrie; sister, Shirley Hesselman, and brother, George William Shanks.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Ellers Mortuary, Webster Street Chapel, 3400 S. Webster St., with the Rev. Kenneth Spangler officiating. Burial will follow at Albright Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the mortuary.
You are invited to read Robert’s obituary at www.ellersmortuary.com, where you may sign the guest book, share a personal message or order flowers for the family. Ellers Mortuary, Webster Street Chapel, assisted the family with arrangements.
