Charles William Shipp III

Charles William Shipp III, 75, Fort Payne, died Wednesday, February 14, 2018 at Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga, TN after a brief hospitalization. Charles was born August 11, 1942 in Fort Payne, AL and was a lifelong area resident. He graduated from Fort Payne High School in May 1960 and earned a Bachelor of Interior Design from Auburn University in June 1965. Charles later pursued graduate studies, earning a Master’s in Education with a concentration in History from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in June 1975. He also completed post graduate work in Educational Administration, earning an AA Certificate from the University of Alabama in 1985. Charles was employed by the Fort Payne City School System for 30 years, retiring in August 1998. He served as a classroom teacher for 19 of those years, teaching American Government and Economics, American History, World History, AP European History, Alabama History and Technical Drawing. He also served as Assistant Principal at Fort Payne High School for five years and Principal for six years. He ended his tenure by serving as Central Office Supervisor for five years. During eight years of his teaching, Charles also served as a bus driver for the school system. After retiring from the school system in 1998, Charles was an English as a Second Language (ESL) Consultant for the Alabama State Department, conducting workshops in Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas. Beginning in 2000, Charles worked as a Safety Consultant for the Southeastern Comprehensive Assistance Center (SECAC), providing safety inspections and reports to schools in Alabama and Arkansas. In 2002, Charles accepted the position of Manager of the Alabama Band Fan Club in Fort Payne. In that role, he was responsible for redesigning the Fan Club, designing merchandise, and increasing Fan Club membership. He also traveled with the band during their Farewell Tour selling Fan Club memberships. Charles was an active and devoted member of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church from August 1971 until the present, where he served in numerous roles, including Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Vestry member, Lay Eucharistic Minister, Intercessor, Lector, and Christian Education teacher. He also arranged the altar flowers for many years. Charles was confirmed in June 1970 at the Episcopal Cathedral of the Advent in Birmingham by The Right Reverend Furman T. Stough, Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. Besides family, church, and being an educator, Charles’s other passions included gardening, cooking, art, classical music, Russian history, the British Monarchy, genealogy, and arranging flowers. He was able to combine his love for history and culture and enjoy many trips throughout the United States and abroad throughout his adult life, especially if they involved seeing The Imperial (Fabergé) Eggs. His skills in the kitchen were known and appreciated by many, as he cooked and served food for numerous church, community and prison ministries. He also loved Auburn University and was a proud Golden Eagle. In addition to his Auburn Tigers, he loved to cheer on the Atlanta Braves, attending numerous spring training and regular season games over the years. Charles was married to Sara Aveline Isbell (Quinn) on August 5, 1971 at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, The Rev. Graham Glover officiating. He and Sara had one daughter, Amy Rebecca Shipp, born February 13, 1975. Charles was also a loving stepfather to Kirk Tcherneshoff and Susan Tcherneshoff (Smith) during his nine-year marriage to Sara. Charles’s second marriage was to Rosalie Saxon Cook on June 14, 1985 at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, The Revs. T. Frank Mathews and John W. Sewell officiating. Charles is survived by his wife of 32 years, Rosalie Cook Shipp; daughter Amy Rebecca Shipp (Eric Schulz); sister-in-law Carol Cook Wilson (Julian Wilson); nieces Dr. Shannon Dorn (Dr. Matthew Dorn) and Cynthia Sudderth (Geoffrey Sudderth); and great-nieces and nephew Aleah, Luke and Ashlyn Dorn. He is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Russell Shipp and Charlsie Lyons Shipp, as well as his beloved dog, Boy, a German Shepherd and Chow mix. Visitation will be held Saturday, February 17, 2018 from 2:00-4:00 PM at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 2813 Godfrey Avenue North, Fort Payne, AL, 35967. A Memorial Service will be held at 4:00 PM at St. Philip’s, with The Rev. W. Dexter Bender serving as Celebrant. The Committal of ashes will be held at the columbarium at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the Shipp family requests contributions to St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 2813 Godfrey Avenue North, Fort Payne, AL, 35967. Wilson Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Charles William Shipp III

August 11, 1942 - February 14, 2018