Robert Grady Shipp, age 78, a resident of the Holly Meadows Community, Parsons, WV, passed from this life Friday, June 29, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Shipp was born September 19, 1933, in Norfolk, VA, the son of Allen and Mattie Berry Shipp. On April 13, 1963, in Oakland, MD, he married Elizabeth Catherine Armentrout Shipp, who survives. Also surviving Mr. Shipp is his son Michael Shipp, Parsons, his daughter, Michelle Smith and husband David of Shinston, and one granddaughter Alexis Smith; one sister, Nina Faye Treiber and husband George, Portsmouth, VA, and four brothers: Willie Shipp, Dennis Shipp, and Walter Shipp and wife Bonnie, all of Virginia Beach, VA, and Ernest Shipp and wife Stacey, Key West, FL. Mr. Shipp was preceded in death by one brother, Allen “Sonny” Shipp and one sister, Evonia “Vonnie” Pallett. Among his many hobbies, Mr. Shipp most enjoyed woodworking, boating and fishing, and traveling. Mr. Shipp served in both the United States Navy and the United State Air Force, with a combined service time of 23 years. He was a Veteran of the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Among other assignments he completed during his military career were duties at Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, CO; Andrews AFB, Washington, DC; and Clark AFB, on Luzon Island in the Philippines; as well as time spent in Africa, France and Germany. A Graveside Memorial Service will be held Monday, July 16, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. at the West Virginia National Cemetery, Grafton, West Virginia, with Reverend Alan Croston officiating. Full Military Honors will be accorded for Mr. Shipp by the Wright-patterson Air Force Base Honor Guard.
