Col. Robert "Bob" Lawrence Shipman, USAF (retired) passed away at the Mission at Blue Skies of Texas on March 6, 2020. Bob was born on January 30, 1939 in Kansas City, Missouri to H. Lawrence Shipman and Janet Strong Shipman.

In 1957, Bob graduated from Center High School, Kansas City and from Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri in 1961 with degrees in economics and accounting. He received a masters degree in public administration from Auburn University, Alabama in 1974.

On November 29, 1969, Robert married Carolyn Mann in her hometown of Colorado Springs, Colorado. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in November of 2019.

Bob was very proud of his twenty-six-year career in the United States Air Force. He had a variety of assignments and positions including Amarillo AFB, Texas, Chanute AFB, Illinois, Kadena AB, Okinawa, deployment to Korat AB, Thailand, and Forbes AFB, Kansas. He served as an advisor at Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam, then assigned as director of Logistics Plans at the Air Force Academy, Colorado.  Next, he attended Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AB, Alabama, then assigned as a member of a working group forming a new NATO unit designated as Allied Air Forces Central Europe at Ramstein AB, Germany.  Returning to the United States, he was assigned to Headquarters SAC at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, then Squadron Commander and Deputy Base Commander, Fairchild AFB, Washington.

After War College in Maxwell AFB, Alabama, Bob was assigned to Kelly AFB, Texas as chief in two Directorates and finally as Director, Logistics Information Systems, San Antonio ALC. He retired in November 1987. After retirement Bob served as Vice President of the Software and Systems Integration Group of the Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). He retired completely in 1999.

Bob's awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Services Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Honor Medal.

Bob is survived by his wife, Carolyn of San Antonio, Texas; son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Natasha of Wichita Falls, Texas; grandson, Robert Gene of Austin, Texas; and his sister, Jan Ferguson of Independence, Missouri.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, July 9, 2021 at 11:15 a.m. at the Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home in Castroville, Texas. A Graveside Service with military honors will follow the Memorial Service at 1:15 p.m. at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, Shelter #2.

Donations in Bob's memory may be made to:

Alzheimer's Association

San Antonio and South Texas Chapter

10223 McAllister Freeway, Suite 100

San Antonio, Texas   78216

Arrangements by Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home. Visit www.tondre-guinn.com