Richard Evans Shirk

Richard Evans Shirk, age 85, of Long Beach, MS, passed away on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

Mr. Shirk was a longtime resident of the MS Gulf Coast. He was born in 1941, in Mifflin, PA. to William and Thelma Shirk. Mr. Shirk was a graduate of Altoona High School and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. He retired from military service at Keesler Air Force Base as a Master Sergeant. He retired again as a Quality Control Manager for Raytheon and Beech Aerospace.

Mr. Shirk was an amateur radio operator most of his life with call letters AI5BB. He first started in Pennsylvania when he was very young and continued until he passed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Thelma Shirk and sibling, William David Shirk.

Survivors include his loving wife, Yong C. Shirk; his brother; children; and grandchildren.

Mr. Shirk was an active member of Trinity Pentecostal Tabernacle in Long Beach, MS. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and will be missed by all that knew him.

Visitation will be Wednesday, August 19, 2026 from 9:30 am until 10:30 am at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home on 15th Street in Gulfport. A graveside service, with military honors by the United States Air Force, will follow at 11:00 am at Biloxi National Cemetery.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport, is honored to serve the family of Richard Evans Shirk.