Dr. James T. Shipman

James Trusler Shipman, 90, of Rt. #2, Belington, WV, died Friday, July 10, at his home, following an extended illness.

He was born June 25, 1919, at Overhill, Upshur County, a son of the late Alonzo McClural and Alpha Jane (Trusler) Shipman. On November 17, 1946, he married the former Genevieve Phillips, who preceded him in death.

Surviving are three daughters, Sarah E. Shipman-Kuntz and husband, Jerry, Belington, Susannah L. Clark and husband, Gerald K., Clarksburg and Sudie L. Shipman, Belington; and four grandchildren, John William Cruise III and wife, Dana, Jennifer Erin Cruise, William Joseph Clark U.S.A.R. and Eric Thomas Clark.

Dr. Shipman was also preceded in death by three sisters and six brothers.

He was a veteran of World War II, serving as a radioman and Electronics Instructor in the U.S. Navy and was a member of the American Legion Post in Athens, Ohio.

Professor Shipman received a Bachelor of Science degree In 1951 and Master of Science degree in 1953 from Ohio University, and subsequently joined the faculty at his alma mater in the Department of Physics, retiring as Professor Emeritus in 1978. He served as chairman of the Department from 1968 until 1972.

Professor Shipman was known as an inspiring teacher. He was the senior author of the text “An Introduction to Physical Science”, now in its 12th edition, which has been adopted by several hundred colleges in the United States. He used the technical expertise gained in World War II in later research on the propagation of electromagnetic waves in the atmosphere.

His research and teaching activities were supported by grants from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Labs and the National Science foundation. In recognition of his accomplishments, Prof. Shipman was awarded, in 1978, the first Honorary Doctor of Engineering Science degree by the Chubu Institute of Technology (now Chubu University) in Nagoya, Japan.

Dr. Shipman was an active supporter of Ohio University, serving as Secretary of its Alumni Board for eight years and on the College of Arts and Sciences Board of Visitors for a decade. In 1994, he was named Outstanding Friend of the College of Arts and Sciences. Prof. Shipman led the establishment of a scholarship fund to support undergraduates in physics and at the request of the Physics Department faculty, the fund was named in his honor at the time of his retirement.

At Dr. Shipman’s request, his remains were cremated.The Memorial Service is scheduled for Friday, July 17, 2009 at 6:00 P.M., at the Corley United Methodist Church Pavilion across from the Barbour County Fairgrounds located on the Shipman Farm. His daughter Sudie Shipman will officiate and interment will follow at a later date. The family requests memorials in the form of contributions to the James Shipman Scholarship in care of “the Ohio University Foundation” (with a note in the memo line of the check that the contribution is for the James Shipman Scholarship), P.O. Box 869, Athens, Ohio 45701.

Stemple & Forman Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.