Stanley Shellabarger

Stanley M. Shellabarger, 92, of Rockford, died at 7:40 a.m. on Wednesday, September 5, 2012, at the Laurels of Shane Hill, Rockford, where he was a patient. He was born on August 26, 1920, in Brookville, Ohio, to Ray and Arkana (Crouch) Shellabarger. On November 9, 1945, he married Louise Rowland, and she survives in Rockford. In addition to Louise, four sons also survive: Rodney (Dorene) Shellabarger, Van Wert, Ohio; Craig (Barb) Shellabarger, Celina, Ohio; Randy (Colleen) Shellabarger, Rockford, Ohio; and Mike (Angie) Shellabarger, Middlepoint, Ohio. One brother, Wayne (Martha) Shellabarger of Mendon, Ohio; two sisters, Francis (Frank) Stoner of Celina, Ohio, and Vivian Hodge, also of Celina, survive, along with 14 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. One sister-in-law, Evelyn Shellabarger survives in Celina. Deceased are two brothers, John and Lowell, as well as one sister, Evelyn Spees. Stan graduated from Neptune High School, and since 1945, resided in the Mercer County area. He was a WWII veteran of the U.S. Army in the South Pacific, a member of the former Rockford Presbyterian Church, where he had been a Deacon, and Elder in the church. After the Presbyterian Church closed its doors, he attended New Horizons Community Church in Rockford. He worked at the Paul Dudgeon Seed House in Rockford but spent the majority of his life as a Standard Oil Distributor, first working for Harold Shindeldecker, and then later, buying the business, from which he retired in 1985. He was a member of the Rockford American Legion Post #508, a member of Shane's Lodge No.377 F&AM, and a coach for the Rockford Recreation Little League, of which he was one of the main founding members of the Rockford Recreation Association. Services will be held on Monday, September 10, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford, with Pastor Marvin Schwartz officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Rockford. Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m., and one hour prior to the service on Monday. Memorials may be directed to the Rockford Recreation Association or to the church. Military rites at the gravesite will be conducted by the Rockford American Legion.