Harold (Hal) Joseph Age - 86 Shymkus

HAROLD (HAL) JOSEPH SHYMKUS, 86, passed away Thursday, December 13, 2012 following a brief illness. He was a 20 year resident of Española. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Hazel Macleod Shymkus. He was born in the Chicago area on May 6, 1926. His surviving brother, Robert M. Shymkus resides in Bowling Green, KY. He graduated from Thornton high School, followed immediately by entering the armed forces in World War II in the Army Air Corps. He served in Italy during the occupation as an MP. After mustering out of the service he attended Thornton Junior College for two years. He then enrolled at Franklin College, Franklin Indiana, majoring in journalism. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. While there, he met his future wife, Mary Beth Newsom of Columbus, Indiana. After graduating with a degree in journalism, he took a job as Editor of the Homewood-Flossmoor Star. Hal and Mary Beth were married September 16, 1951 in Columbus, Indiana. They moved to Columbus to pursue his career with Cummins, where he served in parts-sales and later in the area of marketing and advertising. He retired from Cummins and he and Mary Beth moved to Española in 1993. Surviving are his wife, Mary Beth; son, David Shymkus (Pamela) of Columbus, Lisa Shymkus (Randall Jones) of Santa Fe; grandchildren, Nick and Emily Jones of Wellington, New Zealand, Lauren Turner (Brian) of Charleston, SC, Jenna Voelz (Grant) of Columbus; great-grandchild, Vivian Faith Voelz; numerous nieces and nephews in Bowling Green & other loving relatives & friends; sister-in-law, Martha May Newsom of Columbus. Hal was a man of many talents and interests. He was an avid golfer, die-hard fisherman, writer of books and short stories, oil painter, potter, and a long-time member of the New Mexico Outdoor Writers and Photographers. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, December 28, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Valley View United Methodist Church in Española. An additional service will be held in Columbus in early January at the First Presbyterian Church where he will be interred in the Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Valley View United Methodist Church or Ghost Ranch Conference Center in Abiquiu or Franklin College – Franklin, Indiana. The family of Harold Joseph (Hal) Shymkus has entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley. 505-747-7477

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