Frank J. Shepherd

Frank J. Shepherd, age 88, of Joppa, MD, died March 15, 2010 at Bel Air Health and Rehabilitation in Bel Air. Born in Prudence, WV, he was the son of the late Will Frank Shepherd and Essie Hazel Burdette Shepherd and husband, of 68 years, to Vada Emma Legg Shepherd. In addition to his parents, two brothers, Charles E. Shepherd and William L. Shepherd predeceased him. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he served as a Staff Sergeant with the 10th Armored Division during WWII, including service in France, Belgium, and Germany. During the Korean War, he served with the 101st Airborne Division. He left his hometown of Oak Hill in 1952 to take a position with the Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Company in Middle River, Maryland where he worked as an aircraft inspector for over ten years. He retired, after 20 years, from Aberdeen Proving Ground where he was a security guard. He was a member of Edgewood Cross Point Community Church and was an avid stamp collector. He began collecting stamps as a teenager, later trading with other collectors from all over the world. He also collected space memorabilia for over twenty years and has received many personal letters and autographed photos from the astronauts. He regularly displayed his memorabilia at the Joppa branch of the Harford County library and was featured in several news publications over the years. Mr. Shepherd is survived by his son, Frank Douglas Shepherd and wife, Barbara A., of Kingsville; one grandchild, Kelly A. Shepherd, of Kingsville; two sisters, Lucille Duncan, of Oak Hill, WV, and Eunice Wheeler and husband, Robert, of Stanaford, WV; aunt, Virginia Burdette Snodgrass, and husband, Howard Snodgrass, of St. Albans, WV and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at the family owned McComas Funeral Home, P.A., Abingdon, MD, on Wednesday, March 17, 2010, at 8 p.m. where Pastor Patrick E. Stratton and Pastor Lloyd Weston officiated. Interment will be in High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill, WV with graveside rites and committal service on Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. with military graveside rites conducted by Oak Hill VFW Post #3110. Those who desire may contribute to Edgewood Cross Point Community Church, 1980 Trimble Road, Edgewood, MD 21040. Memory tributes may be sent to the family at www.tyreefuneralhome.com Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, WV