John S. Shropshire

1949 - 2024

John S. Shropshire

February 28, 1949 - April 6, 2024

Lexington, Kentucky - John Shirley Shropshire, a long-time banker in Kentucky, passed away on Saturday, April 6th at the age of 75, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife, Judith Peirson Shropshire, son John Kinnaird Shropshire of Versailles, KY, his three daughters Anne Elizabeth Shoemaker (Josh), Katherine Shropshire Graves (Jacob) both of Greensboro, NC, Caroline Russell Shropshire of Winston-Salem, NC, grandchildren Lucy and Henry Shoemaker, Josie Shropshire, Jack and Rowan Graves, and his sister Kay Shropshire Bell (Cecil) of Georgetown, KY. John was born in Lexington, KY, the son of Laurence Kinnaird and Kathleen Fitch Shropshire. He graduated from Henry Clay High School in 1966 and in 1970 earned a bachelor of science degree in Business from the University of Kentucky. In 1972 John completed the MBA program, also at UK. Following in his father's footsteps he became a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity where he developed lifelong friendships with his fraternity brothers. He continued his involvement throughout his adult years, mentoring fraternity leadership and raising money to ensure the longevity of the local chapter. John enjoyed every aspect of his long banking career, from treasury duties, to commercial banking, to equine lending, and ultimately to the role of CEO of community banks in Maysville, Bowling Green, Lexington, and Bardstown. He derived great satisfaction from his ability to mentor future leaders in both business and community organizations and to foster economic growth in the communities in which he served. For fifteen years John carried the title of General in the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels where he brought his expertise in finance to strengthen and shape the organization's investment and grant-making policy by serving as chairman of the Finance Committee. He enjoyed the countless hours he spent counseling the leadership of non-profit organizations that were seeking to qualify for grants from the Colonels organization and worked tirelessly to discern the projects most worthy of the Colonel's support. In his leisure time, John was passionate about all things locomotion. As a member of the Cave Run Sailing Association he invited friends and family to join him in sailing domestically and abroad. His deep dive into the history and design of cars and motorcycles brought him endless enjoyment. On weekends John could often be found at a car or boat show or speaking with a mechanic for the fun of it. He was a lover of recorded and live music of all kinds, with a discerning ear and one-of-a-kind dance moves. At home, he took great pleasure in the pursuit of perfect high-fidelity audio. In his later years, John enjoyed adventures with his wife and loyal friend, Jack the Dog, touring the backroads of America in his notoriously unreliable RV. John's circle of friends was vast and included people from all walks of life. Perhaps his greatest gift was his ability to maintain those friendships across the miles and across the years. His humility, honesty, and kindness touched all who knew him. A Visitation will be held at Milward-Broadway, (159 N. Broadway) on Sunday, April 14th from 3-5 pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am on Monday, April 15 at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Lexington, KY. Private graveside services will be held at a later date. www.milwardfuneral.com