Billy E. Shank

Billy E. (Bill) Shank, 76, of Lake Placid, Florida, died at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, 2013. Bill was born in Diamond, Missouri on August 14, 1936, to Melvin and Pauline Shank. Bill was united in marriage to Norma Fitzgerald on October 1st, 1955. Together they celebrated 56 + years of loving companionship until her death on June 2, 2012. Bill was a devoted husband to Norma, and Norma to him. Bill founded Central Produce Sales, Inc. in 1984 with Norma. As President, Bill led the company to be a preferred provider of produce to major, national food processing establishments. Bill was known for his dedication to the business, his integrity, his word, and for his “common sense” wisdom. In recent years, Bill was known for his devotion and care for Norma during her prolonged illness. He especially enjoyed the weather, tending to his pineapples and landscaping at his home in Florida.Bill is survived by three sons Terry (Theta) Shank of Rome, GA, Kenton (Stacie) Shank of Ojai, CA, and Victor (Lisa) Shank of Dowagiac, MI; sister Betty (Gene) Goade of Osage Beach, MO; brother Paul (Nancy) Shank of Jefferson City, MO; six grandchildren Annie (Chad) Wolfe, Jason (Lauren) Shank, Stephanie Reed (Nathan Hayes), Maggie (Charlie) Bergen, Jeremy Shank, and Tori Shank; six great grandchildren Isabella Wolfe, Jeremy Reed, Nevaeh Hayes, Reegan Wolfe, Gavin Bergen and Tayten Hayes.A memorial service will be held at Yazel-Clark Funeral Home in Dowagiac, Michigan on Saturday, April 6, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions are sent to the Good Shepherd Hospice, 1110 Hammock Road, Sebring, FL 33870.