Kenneth Eugene Shinn's Obituary
Huntersville – Kenneth Eugene Shinn, 94, was called home by the Lord on March 18, 2020 with his family by his side. Kenneth was born in Huntersville, NC and was the son of the late Mr. Webb Shinn and Mrs. Annie Hall Shinn. Kenneth grew up and lived his entire life in Huntersville, pretty much on the same road he was raised, Ramah Church Rd.
Kenneth was a graduate of Huntersville High School and a veteran of the US Army. He served in WWII and was stationed in Germany. For many years he was a carpenter with his father and brothers. He farmed, raised livestock, and worked many unofficial jobs over the years. Kenneth’s business career was with Transco, now Williams Co, until he retired after 25 years in 1983. Ramah Presbyterian Church was his only church home and membership, from birth until his death. He was very active in Sunday School, VBS, Scouts, Men’s groups and outings, Missions, Senior lunches and Bible studies, an elder, a deacon, Finance Committee, and Cemetery Committee member, just to name a few, for years and years. He also loved to cook and lend a hand at any fish fry, hot dog picnic, or pot luck dinner.
Kenneth’s favorite hobbies and past times were collecting antiques and odd things, camping, farming, westerns, or just “piddling and tinkering” with old machines and repairs to things around the house. He was a skilled craftsman, engineer, mechanic, bookkeeper, and generally he could fix or make about anything he or a neighbor needed. Over the years he coached many youth baseball teams, church softball leagues, and encouraged many people. He was a member of the Good Sam Camping Club and the Stumptown Tractor Club. After retiring he worked harder than required, but it was a labor of love to help others. Whether that was growing vegetables to give away, shelling pecans, making deliveries for CarQuest, or deliver Meals on Wheels to elderly neighbors; Kenneth stayed busy up until his early 90’s.
Kenneth Shinn leaves us to join his belated wife of 50 years, Janie Claudine Shinn. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Connie Bell Shinn Davis and Shirley Shinn Hollar, and his brother Kermit Cicero Shinn; as well as their spouses. He leaves behind his son, James “Jimmy” Shinn, his granddaughter, Robin Shinn Conner and husband Charles “Charlie”; all of Huntersville. He was a proud great-grandfather to Abigail “Abbey” Conner, and he would say he was blessed to have his grandbaby so near for the last 11 years. He is survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and a special family that is near and dear to his heart – The Johnson Family.
The family will receive friends from 1-2:00 PM Saturday, March 21 at Ramah Presbyterian Church. A service to celebrate Kenneth’s life will immediately follow at 2:00 PM with Rev. Brian Copeland, Rev. Harold Hudson and Pastor Sammy Pierce officiating. The burial will be private for the family immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to the Cemetery Fund of Ramah Presbyterian Church, 14401 Ramah Church Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078.
James Funeral Home of Huntersville is serving the Shinn family.
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