Otis Shipley; Retired Truck and Crane Salesman

Otis Shipley, a retired truck and crane salesman, died at his Ventura home Tuesday. He was 75.

Shipley was born in Lynwood on Aug. 30, 1923. His mother died 11 days after his birth, and he was raised in Tupman in Kern County by his father and grandparents. He graduated from Taft High School in 1942.

Shipley enlisted in the Army during World War II and served in the 103rd Infantry Division as a military policeman in Europe.

He married Jean Coke in November 1945 at Fort Campbell, Ky., and they moved to Ventura.

Shipley worked in construction and in oil fields for Union Trucking, Lang Transportation and, for the past 25 years, with OST Trucks and Cranes.

He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Petroleum Production Pioneers, American Petroleum Institute and the Dirty 30s Club.

In addition to his wife, Shipley is survived by sons Jerel Wayne Shipley and Richard Lee Shipley of Ventura, grandsons Scott Wayne Shipley and Brian Lee Shipley and numerous relatives in California, Oregon and Tennessee.

Visitation will be today from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura.

Graveside services will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at Ventura Missionary Church, with Leonard Dewitt officiating.

A potluck lunch after the service will be held at OST Trucks and Cranes, 2951 N. Ventura Ave.

Contributions in Shipley’s name can be made to the American Diabetes Assn., Ventura County chapter, 6300 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 100, Los Angeles 90048 or to Ventura Missionary Church, 500 Highpoint Drive, Ventura 93003.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.