Robert Lee Shank

Robert Lee Shank May 8, 1918 October 16, 2006 Robert Lee Shank was born at Claremore, Oklahoma, in 1918. He attended the public schools of Wichita, Kansas, where his father served 16 years as minister of Immanuel Baptist Church. He attended Ottawa University in Kansas and Southwest Baptist College and William Jewell College in Missouri, and graduated from Northeast Missouri State College. In 1941 he married Ruth Marybelle Sutton of Independence, Missouri. He was also ordained into the ministry that same year. He served faithfully in Christian ministry for over 60 years as pastor, preacher, author, lecturer, and teacher. He served churches in La Harp, Kansas, and in the Missouri towns of Lebanon, Milan, Camdenton, Lake Ozark, Macks Creek, Branson, Louisburg, Billings and Mt. Vernon. He taught 14 years at Faith Bible Academy, Camdenton, Missouri, serving seven years as president. He lectured widely throughout the United States in churches, conferences, and seminaries, and received an honorary doctorate from Pepperdine University in 1975. In 1960 his first book was published, Life in the Son: A Study of the Doctrine of Perseverance. This was followed in 1970 by Elect in the Son: A Study of the Doctrine of Election. Other publications included Jesus, His Story, Sources of Power, Until, and God's Tomorrow. For the past 44 years, Robert Shank lived with his wife in Mt. Vernon, Missouri, where their four children attended the public schools. On September 1, he and his wife celebrated 65 years of marriage. On October 16, he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. Preceding him in death were his parents, two brothers, and one grandson. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Marybelle, and five children: Walter Shank of Jefferson City, Missouri, Mary Aslin of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Rev. David Shank of Portland, Oregon, Martha Moore, of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and Carolyn King, of Carefree, Arizona. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. The funeral service, under direction of Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, 2006, at the First Christian Church-Disciples of Christ in Mt. Vernon with Rev. Jack Daniel officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Vernon City Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given in his name to the Ozarks Afro-American Heritage Museum (OAAHM), PO Box 265, Ash Grove, Missouri, 65604, or the First Christian Church.