David Shipman

(From Ulmer Funeral Home)

David Lee Shipman, 84, of Carthage, Missouri, passed away on Friday, February 13, 2026, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mount Vernon, Missouri. He was born on December 19, 1941, to Ralph and Rozella Shipman in Carthage, Missouri. David graduated from Carthage Senior High School with the Class of 1960. 

David was united in marriage to Linda Borland on September 25, 1965. David dedicated 20 years of honorable service to the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, which included a tour in Vietnam. During his military career, he focused heavily on environmental health, publishing several articles on the subject based on his time in Vietnam. 

Following his retirement from the Navy in 1980, he continued his education, earning a master’s degree in health administration at Pittsburg State University. His professional life after the military was dedicated to public service. He worked in environmental health as a sanitarian (Health Inspector) in Joplin and the Clinton, Missouri area before joining the State Division of Aging, where he inspected nursing homes in the Poplar Bluff area. 

A man of deep faith, David served as a deacon in many Southern Baptist churches across the United States during his 28 moves with the Navy. In his later years, he remained active in church ministry as a member of Open Door Baptist Church in Carthage. He also joined the Gideons Organization in the early 2000’s helping to spread the Word. He was a 32nd Degree Mason with the Grand Lodge of Missouri AF & AM in Carthage. 

David’s journey took him from Carthage to Arizona in 2015 to be near his son, Charlie, before ultimately returning to his roots in Missouri in 2018. 

He was preceded in death by: 

• His loving parents, Ralph and Rozella Shipman
• His beloved wife, Linda A Shipman (d. 2013)
• His son, Shannon D. Shipman
• His sister, Deborah (Debbie) Reed, and her husband, Mike Reed
He is survived by:
• His son, Charlie (Kathy) Shipman of Smithville, Missouri
• His brother, Richard A. Shipman of Carthage, Missouri
• His brother-in-law, Jeff (Donna) Borland of Raytown, Missouri
• Many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins 

Service Information 
Ulmer Funeral Home, Carthage, Missouri
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
3:00 PM
Interment: To follow at Dudman Springs Cemetery 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to The Gideons International or the Open Door Baptist Church. 

Online condolences may be made at www.ulmerfh.com. 

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Ulmer Funeral Home.