Orval Edward “Dan” Shinn, age 72, a resident of rural Bronson, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, August 18, 2020, at his home. He was born March 12, 1948, in Ft. Scott, Kansas, the son of Danny L. Shinn and Wilma M. Eastwood Shinn. At a young age, the family moved to Stinnett, Texas, where Orval graduated from the Stinnett High School with the Class of 1966.
Orval later served a tour of duty with the United States Army in Vietnam. He later reenlisted as served as an air traffic controller for the Army. Following his retirement from military service, he went on to receive his Bachelor’s Degree in Archeology from Troy University in Alabama and went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Archeology from the University of Alabama. He was employed by the engineering firm of Burns & McDonnell where he worked in the Archeology Department. This job had him working on construction sites throughout the United States. Orval first married Jane Forgoress and they had a son, Gabriel.
They were divorced. Orval later married Carla Morris on October 22, 2011, at Overland Park, Kansas. Orval loved football and because of the time spent in Alabama was an avid fan of the Crimson Tide. He also enjoyed golfing, fishing and hunting. Throughout his life, both Orval and his dad, Danny, maintained a love for the Shinn family farm near Turkey Creek. They often spent summers working on the farm. Following his retirement, Orval and Carla built their retirement home on the farm. He was a member of the First Missionary Baptist Church in Uniontown, Kansas.
Survivors include his wife, Carla, of the home; his son, Gabe and wife, Tracy of Mebane, North Carolina; Carla’s sons, Bryan Ballard and wife, Lynn, of Lathrop, Missouri and Sean Ballard and wife, Jackie, of Kenilworth, Illinois; seven grandchildren, Grayson and Parker Shinn and Kyle, Matthew, Blake, Evan and Addie Ballard and a great-grandson, Gunner. Also surviving are two sisters, Dana Eudey, of Tulia, Texas and Lorrain Cook of Yuma, Arizona.
Rev. Marty DeWitt will conduct funeral services at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, August 22nd at the First Missionary Baptist Church. Burial with military honors will take place in the Turkey Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Friday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, PO Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
