Kenneth Dale Shanklin, M.D. (Lieutenant Colonel, USAF Retired)

Kenneth Dale Shanklin, M.D. (Lieutenant Colonel, USAF Retired), age 85, died on April 1, 2017 at Blue Skies of Texas West (formerly Air Force Village II) in San Antonio, TX. Ken was born on December 21, 1931. The middle of nine children, Ken grew up working on the family farm in Toluca, IL. After graduating as valedictorian of his high school class, Ken earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry at the University of Illinois. While pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin, Ken was called to active duty in 1954 as a 2nd Lt. ROTC graduate in the United States Air Force. Ken first served as a motion picture officer, and then as a B-47 navigator out of Homestead AFB, FL and as a navigator in B-52s out of Minot AFB, ND. Ken resigned his regular USAF commission to attend the University of Utah's Medical School. He graduated at the top of his class in 1967, and received his fifth USAF commission. Ken served his country for a total of 20 years before retiring in 1977 as a Lt. Col, ending his military career as the Assistant Chief of Wilford Hall Medical Center's plastic surgery training program in San Antonio, TX. It was here at Wilford Hall that Ken was first introduced to his wife of 36 years, Lt. Col. Colleen Shanklin (1932-2014). In 1977, Ken and his wife Colleen moved to Fresno, CA, where Ken operated his private plastic surgery private until retiring in 1992. While a practicing physician, Ken served as president of the executive board of Valley Children's Hospital Medical Staff, Associate Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery at UC-San Francisco, and board member and major benefactor of LIGA, Flying Doctors of Mercy. In retirement, Ken served his fellow armed forces veterans as Department Vice Commander of the American Legion's California region, as Region Commander of the West Coast Division and Surgeon General of the Military Order of the World Wars, and as an active resident of western San Antonio's Air Force Village II. Ken's many philanthropic efforts often began at home. Ken funded private-school tuition, numerous college degrees, and many trips around the globe for his grandchildren, as well as giving his two oldest grandchildren a love of flying, and funding world-record cross-country flights by his two oldest grandsons in 1991. Ken was a guest of the White House, a Grand Marshal of the Magic Kingdom Parade in Disney World, a commercial multi-engine airplane pilot, a helicopter pilot, a special invited guest of a Space Shuttle Endeavour launch, a lifelong Rotarian, a certified advanced open-water SCUBA diver, a windsurfer, a hang-glider pilot, a California backcountry expert, and a lover of nature. Ken was preceded in death by his wife Colleen, his mother Elsie and father Walter, and his siblings Elaine, Wayne, Willard, and Dean. Ken is survived by siblings Jean, Robert, Roger (Sheila), and James; his first wife, Doris Gay Minton Davenport and their son Steven Dale (Angela) Shanklin; his grandsons Michael Dale (Cheryl) Shanklin (and his son Bryson Dale Shanklin), Daniel James (Taylor) Shanklin (and his children Wyatt James Shanklin and Colleen Ann Shanklin), Phillip Thomas (Tania) Shanklin, Steven Dale Shanklin II, and Devin Matthew Shanklin; his daughters-in-law JoAnne Shanklin and Mayuree Shanklin, many nieces and nephews, and countless relatives and friends. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at the Freedom House Chapel of Blue Skies of Texas West (formerly Air Force Village II), 5100 John D. Ryan Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78245. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ken's memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or to a charity of the donor's choice.