Lewis K. Shupe, age 84, died Sunday, June 26, 2016, in Fairborn, Ohio.
He was born on August 24, 1931, in North Ogden, Utah. He was preceded in death by his parents Parley and Luella Chadwick Shupe, brothers Russell, Cyril, Bill, Le Grande, Owen and Gerald (Mont), and sisters Beatrice, Margaret, Maxine, Arlene and Janice. He is survived by brothers Verle and Merrill (Bob), many nieces, nephews and distant relations, and long-time friend Gary Barlow.
Lew was raised on a small farm, and in a large Mormon family he learned the importance of a good work ethic, sharing and respect for others. These aspects carried throughout his life, and were appreciated by family, friends and co-workers. In Utah he loved to hike and ski in the mountains and liked to relate stories about his experiences with mountain snows and the beauty of summer wild flowers that grew in the high altitudes.
Lew received a two-year degree from Weber College, Ogden, Utah, in1951. He also had experience in clinical work with children on a western Indian reservation. Not having specific plans at the time of graduation, Lew joined the Air Force along with two close friends. With his previous year of Russian language at Weber College, it served as a basis for his placement in the crypto-analysis program in security services, first at the Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, followed by a three-year overseas similar assignment in Bremerhaven, Germany.
He also became fluent in German at this time. Following his discharge, he enrolled in the University of Utah and majored in his ultimate career focus, Speech Pathology. Lew received his bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Utah, followed by advanced graduate work at Pennsylvania State University. He earned a Ph.D. at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Lew taught at Fresno State in California and the State University of New York at Buffalo, before coming to Wright State University, where he was professor of communication and also taught courses in the Art Therapy graduate program. He served many terms on the WSU Friends of the Libraries Board, and also worked with the WSU Libraries Archives in facilitating the oral history interview project.
He retired in 1993 as professor emeritus from Wright State University. In his retirement years, Lew was active on the WSU Retirees Association board, serving a term as president. He was a member of the American Rose Society (ARS), and served as the national arrangements chair under three ARS presidents, receiving presidential citations for his outstanding service. Lew received the Klima Medal, the highest ARS award for service. He was a Master Consulting Rosarian and a horticulture and arrangements judge, and continued to teach workshops, schools and seminars across the country for both the ARS and the Ikebana schools of floral design. He held the rank of senior professor of Ikenobo-Ikebana.
Lew was a good friend, teacher and advisor who will be missed by all. Services will be at a later date in Utah.
