Joe Dale Shumate

Joe Dale Shumate, 89, passed away on Thursday, December 17, 2020. A graveside service will be held on January 4, 2021, at 2:00 pm, at the Oakwood Cemetery in Baldwin City, Kansas, with military honors by the United States Navy. He was born in Van Buren, Arkansas, on September 27, 1931. He was the son of Bennett Shumate and Alpha Davis Shumate. The family moved to Wichita, Kansas, where Joe went to high school. After high school, Joe joined the U.S. Navy and served during the Korean War. The Navy is where he learned his life’s vocation of being an air traffic controller. On August 5, 1957, he married Betty Jean Campbell in Chicago, Illinois. They resided in Olathe, Kansas, for 15 years before moving to Baldwin City, Kansas. While living in Olathe, he worked at the Kansas City Municipal Airport before transferring to the Air Route Traffic Control Center in Olathe, where he worked for over 20 years. After retiring as an air traffic controller, he returned to the center as an instructor in the training room. Joe was known as a jack-of-all-trades. There was never a job he couldn’t do, as he continued to make multiple trades after he officially left the control center. Joe was a member of the American Legion and the Masons. His hobbies were woodworking, carving, and stained-glass work. He also enjoyed ballroom dancing and square dance. Joe was a devoted father and grandfather. He adored the nurses at Vintage Park in Baldwin City and always called them his girls. He will be remembered for his smile and sense of humor. He will be forever loved and missed by those who were blessed to know him. He is survived by his two daughters Brenda Saile and her husband Jeff Saile of Baldwin City, Deborah King of Baldwin City, and his son Jeffrey Shumate of Andover, Kansas. He is also survived by three grandchildren Krissy (Saile) Kline, Jay King, and Kylie King. Three great-grandchildren Kalla Kline, Mya King, and Cooper King. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Betty (Campbell) Shumate, his brothers Jack Shumate and Paul Shumate, sister Bonita Day, and grandson Bobby Saile. The family suggests memorial contributions to American Legion Post 228 Baldwin City c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.