Mr. Joseph Stephen Shape Jr., 73, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away Friday, September 28, 2018 at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville, Fla.
He was born July 5, 1945 in Sidney, Ohio to the late Joseph Steven Shape and Georgia Schlaugetter. He was a graduate of Tri-State University in Angola, Ind., and for most of his working career Mr. Shape worked in the vending and packaging industry.
Mr. Shape attended Blackrock Baptist Church until his health declined.
Mr. Shape and his wife, Carole, moved 27 years ago from Huntington, Ind. to Fernandina Beach, where he loved the “Florida living.” Spending time at the beach whether he was fishing or just walking was great fun to him. He also enjoyed antique and modern firearms and could be found on the target range with his latest acquisition. Between family, work and the beach, he also found time to be a private pilot.
He will always be remembered as a loving family man who not only saw to the material needs of his family but instilled an emphasis on maintaining a positive outlook for life and a “never stay down” attitude to his son and grandchildren. His son, Joe, said of him, “No young man could have had a better example of how to be a loving and caring ‘man’ than my father.”
Mr. Shape leaves behind his wife of 52 years, Carole Shape, of Fernandina Beach; son, Joe Shape and his wife, Danielle, of Roanoke, Ind.; sisters, Sally Schenkel and her husband, Kent, of Huntington, Sharon Solloway of Huntington, Linda Altenholf and her husband, Ron, of Goshen, Ind.; grandchildren, William Shape, Elizabeth Shape and Maxton Shape.
Mr. Shape will be returned to Huntington for family services there.
Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
