Obituaries

Ralph Wayne Shilling

Ralph Wayne Shilling, 64, of Springdale, Ark., died Dec. 7, 2012, at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale, Ark. He was born Nov. 29, 1948, at Pine Bluff, Ark., the son of Diral Edward and Beulah Cordie Gray Shilling. He held Bachelors and Masters degrees in Industrial Education from The University of Central Arkansas and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Arkansas. He was a retired Human Resource Director for Superior Industries and a life member of the Society for Human Resource Management. In 1973 he was named Industrial Arts Teacher of the Year while teaching at Sheridan and in 1990 he earned his private pilot's license. He was an active member of the Elmdale Baptist Church in Springdale where he had served as a Deacon, Sunday School Teacher and Nursery Worker. He was a skilled craftsman in woodworking, making beautiful furniture and cabinets and a creator of problem-solving inventions. He had a heart of service and loved the Lord. He was preceded in death by one brother, Richard Shilling, two sisters, Sybil Sisk and Lorene Crowder and his father-in-law, the Rev. Carl Nelson. Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann Nelson Shilling of the home; one daughter and son-in-law, Katherian Cordie and David Edward Venditto of Irving, Texas; two brothers and three sisters-in-law, Ray and Myrtle Shilling of Fresno, Calif., Perry and Yvonne Shilling of Flagstaff, Ariz., and Sharon Shilling of Russellville, Ark.; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Barbara Cooper of Norman, Okla., Rebecca and John Hart of Inyokern, Calif., and Clay Sisk of Charlottesville, Va.; his mother-in-law, Katie Nelson of Huntsville, Ark.; and three brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Mark and Jolynne Nelson and Steve and Tanya Nelson, both of Huntsville, Ark., and Randy and Janet Nelson of Livingston, Texas. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the Elmdale Baptist Church, 1700 W. Huntsville in Springdale, with the Rev. Jeff Rhoades officiating. Cremation arrangements were by Brashears Funeral Home, www.brashearsfuneralhome.net, of Huntsville, Ark. Memorials may be made to The Benevolence Fund at Elmdale Baptist Church, P.O. Box 2055, Springdale, AR 72765-2055, Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Road, Springdale, AR 72762 or the American Wheelchair Mission in care of the Rotary Club of Springdale, P.O. Box 6006, Springdale, AR 72766-6006.

Published December 10, 2012

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