Lewis J. Shank

Lewis J. Shank, age 90, and a resident of Gulfport for over 60 years, passed away on Tuesday, October 21, 2014 in Gulfport. Lew was born in Ringtown, PA. Lew served in the U.S. Army, then in the U.S. Army Air Corp and the U.S. Air Force. He served during World War II from 1942 until 1945 and retired in 1984 as Chief Warrant Officer 3 after 42 years of service. After his retirement from the military, he established the first radio shop in Biloxi which later became Electronic Services and the Electronic Security Services in Gulfport which he operated for fifty years until his retirement. Lew was very involved in the community serving in many organizations, the American Legion, DAV, VFW, 40/8 Club, Elks Lodge, Shriners, Masons, Civitan Club, Crew of Gemini, and an original founding member of “At Ease Gang”. Lew was preceded in death by his wife, Queenie K. Paul Shank; his parents, Frank Shank and Beatrice Rumble Shank; and a brother, Lavern Shank. He is survived by his five children, Linda Shank Allen, Bea Shank Long (Jay), Dale Shank (Angie), Susan Shank Collins (Jeffrey), and Fred Shank (Mary Martha); ten grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren; and seven great great-grandchildren. The family requests memorial contributions to Lew’s church, Grace Lutheran Church, 19221 Pineville Road, Long Beach, MS 39560 pastored by Dave Parr. Visitation will be held Friday evening October 24, 2014 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport. The funeral service will be Saturday, October 25, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow at Gulf Pine Memorial Gardens, 19361 28th Street, Long Beach with U.S. Air Force honors. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com