Joseph Alfred Shephard, Sr.Joseph Alfred Shephard, Sr. passed away on Friday, October 6, 2006, at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa following a brief illness.Al was born on August 4, 1925 in Kansas City, Missouri to Joseph and Violet Shephard. In 1942 at the age of 17 he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He proudly served his country piloting military transport aircraft until the end of World War II. In 1953, he enlisted in the Air Force Reserve and retired on August 4, 1985 with the rank of Lt. Colonel. He went on to work for Atlantic Richfield Company.After his service in the Air Force during WWII, he enrolled in Kansas University on the G.I. Bill, working on a degree in Industrial Management. He left KU in 1950, thinking he had run out of time on the G.I. Bill, and that he did not have enough hours to earn a degree. At the age of 78, he went to an Open Advising session at Summerfield Hall at KU with a copy of his transcript.. Administration at KU determined that Al had more than enough hours to graduate. On May 16, 2003, he led the graduating class across the stage at KU.On September 5, 1947, he married Charlotte Jean Henry in Kansas City. They had two children, Joe and Jean. Charlotte died on November 18, 1977. On August 30, 1984, he married Nancy Hurt in Kansas City, Kansas. They moved to Midland in 1995, where Nancy died on March 3, 1999, after a long battle with cancer.Al was predeceased by his parents and his daughter, Jean Shephard Donaldson, who died on June 23, 2002. He is survived by his son, Joe Shephard and wife, Judy; by his son-in-law, Thomas Donaldson of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; five grandchildren, Ashlee Callender of San Antonio, Andrew Shephard of Midland; and Paul Donaldson, Keith Donaldson and Paige Donaldson, all of Philadelphia; one great-grandchild, Zachary Tyler Callender of San Antonio; and his dear friends, Patti Kennard of Kansas City and Ann Euston of Midland.Per his wishes, a family service will be held at a later date to inter his ashes at White Rock Cemetery near Pendennis, Kansas.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Meals on Wheels or the West Texas Aphasia Center, both located at 3301 Sinclair, Midland, Texas 79707.He will missed by all who knew and loved him.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory in Midland. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com,
