George Lewis Shunk, Jr.

George Lewis Shunk Jr., cherished husband, devoted dad, grand-father and great grand-father, has passed away of natural causes and is in the loving presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Born and raised in Argos, Indiana, George learned many of life’s most important lessons and values growing up and working on his family’s farm. As was the case for many Indiana boys who had the gift of height, he played varsity basketball for his hometown Argos High School Dragons.

Following high school, George enrolled at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana where he pursued a major in Agricultural Economics and enrolled in ROTC. He was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity where he made many life-long friends. It was at Purdue that he met Lorene McCormick, who he married after graduation in 1955 and with whom had two sons, Mark and Stewart.

Following a brief stint working for J.C. Penney in Lafayette, Indiana (where Mark was born) and short time living in Vincennes, Indiana, George and his young family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio (where Stewart was born) to work for the I & S McDaniel trucking company. From there the family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana where he managed a White Freight Liner truck dealership before transitioning into selling Mercedes Benz trucks and finally real estate, which is where he spent the balance of his career.

Divorced from his first wife in 1975, George married Karen Andrea Swanson in Greenwood, Indiana in 1979, becoming step-father to Kara and Khristina. George, Karen and the girls moved to the Scottsdale, Arizona area (where Kelly was born) and then several years later the Pittsburgh area. After the girls had all grown and left home, George and Karen moved to Texas where they spent several years in San Antonio before finally settling in Denton.

Throughout his life, George was known for his optimism, good humor, and sense of adventure. He was happy, outgoing and readily connected with others. He was fun loving and always “up” for new memorable experiences, whether it was driving cross-country one summer in college (earning money by working at farms along the way), traveling to Europe (including East Berlin) in the early ’70’s with his son or much later with his sister and elderly mother for the trip of his mother’s lifetime. During the years his wife Karen worked as a flight attendant, he frequently flew with her on her work trips so he could see and experience new and interesting destinations. His road trips with his children were legendary, as was his habit of hopping on a plane and visiting them and their families at the drop of a hat. Games, graduations, weddings, births, and other significant life events were all priorities for him that he did his best not to miss.

George’s family will always remember his unfailing devotion to his wife Karen, his children and grandchildren. In addition to Karen, George is survived by his sister Beverly, brother Bill, sons Mark (Suzy) and Stewart (Teresa Barton) Shunk, daughter Kelly Horton (Jason), and step-daughters Kara Costopoulos (Jason Reisinger) and Khristina McLaughlin. In addition, grandsons Trevor and Zach Shunk, Liam DiFilippo and James McLaughlin, grand-daughters Kelsey Smith (Trevor), Caroline Shunk, Jaclyn Shunk and Gracie Horton, step-grandson Aiden Reisinger, and great-grandsons Finnegan Smith, Beckham Smith and Hugh Moss. He was preceded in death by his parents George (Sr.) and Mary Shunk and brother Richard Shunk.

George’s legacy is one of love, resilience, and kindness. He had an amazing ability to see the best in people and forgive their shortcomings. He will be remembered not only for the long life he lived, but for the way he inspired others to live theirs - with laughter, optimism, enthusiasm and heart. He will be deeply missed.

Private memorial services are pending. Bill DeBerry Funeral Directors have been entrusted with the arrangements. To leave the family online condolences, please click on the Guestbook link below.