The Rev

A Tribute to a Great Man,
a Great Preacher,
and a Great Father

The Day of Dad’s Retirement Dinner

Rev. Dale Morgan Shellhamer

by Lori Fish

After church, and after we got John (my husband) dressed well enough to please mom, (out of his raggy, old tennis shoes and shorts) we then went to Dad’s Retirement Dinner… His churches are: Zion UCC in Lewistown Valley, and Christ UCC in Mckeansburg…

All the family I mentioned before were there, then also, Brian Zelinsky (Barbie’s husband); Aunt Carol and Uncle Jim; Aunt Audry and Uncle Carl; Pappy (Paul Shellhamer, Dad’s Dad); Aunt Diane and Uncle Ron;

Some tears were shed, I image by all, but mostly the New Ringgold Fire Company was filled with laughter as so many came up to speak about old memories.

Skip Wessner…She spoke of how Dad and Mom came all the way to Delaware(?) Hospital to see her 23 years ago when she had her pace maker put in, which brought a close bond between them ever after.), She cried in telling this, and we all cried along with her…

Charlie Bailey…(He was like a brother to us, a son to my parents and a good friend to all.) Anyway, he spoke of getting even with Dad, since only two years ago the Odd Fellows honored him, and Dad told things, about Charlie, that to that day, his own parents and grown-up friends never heard before. Charlie then went on to say that he, himself was probably the only one, in the history of Confirmation, that ever picketed my father’s way of doing things. Then Charlie went on to ask us (The audience) If Rev. Shellhamer ever made them do a report about a saint named "LIRPA LOOF" in confirmation Class. No one recalled such a thing and Charlie feigned being indignantly shocked. Then he said how the class looked and looked for information—even having the school librarian tear the library apart to find something, anything on Lirpa Loof. Then, when the day came for the report to be turned in, My Dad divulged the fact that Lirpa Loof was April Fool spelled backwards. That’s when Charlie made a sign and picketed my Dad’s ways. They were always such cards—my Dad and that Charlie Bailey!!!

Dott…also spoke, and my Dad teased her that they would be spending a lot of time at her house since they would soon be neighbors (about 2 miles away) and she has an in ground pool!

June Leiby…She gave Dad a shovel, an Apron and a wooden spoon. Then she said that Since Nancy will still be working, he’s to make sure that the meals are ready when she comes home…The family then called out that he only knew how to make egg in the nest. Which is mostly true, though he can make other high cholesterol meals.

Helen Kock…I Believe was next and heartily agreed with June, as she gave much the same items as June did.

Harry Strack…He said something like he was representing "The Charge" and that they wanted to show how much they appreciated my Dad’s efforts throughout his 25 years of service…then he extended his hand for a firm handshake and said (something like), "That’s all you get." Then, Harry admitted that he was joking then handed my Dad an envelope with a check for, I believe, $2,500.00! A hundred dollars for each year.

(In the course of the night, and in the days thereafter, there were so many others that gave my parents a head start in their retirement with checks and cards with money in them. I thank you all, as I’m sure they do too, because the sum was over six thousand dollars and that shows how much all these people care about my Dad…since it is obvious that their gifts came from the heart.)

Cathy Mcgee…Spoke about dad providing so many with the bread of life and gave him a basket full of bread, in a Laungenberger basket no less…It was very nice, and dad later said how touched he was that she would say such a thing.

Nancy Killian…She gave a glove, and spoke of how she heard of all the mischievous things he did as a child…one being how he would tie a rope (Thread) around a purse or wallet and wait patiently until someone came along to pick it up. The "Glove" she then said, would come in handy to keep him from getting rope burns in the process of all his mischievous ways.

Sandy Kashmar…In a quite serious tone, she spoke of how Dad taught her how to pray…She said it was on the way to Lewistown that this occurred. She was following him there, and had some difficulty keeping up with him on the narrow, back, country road with all them winding turns…It was then that she said aloud "Lord…Please help me get there in one piece!" And thus she learned to pray. This was particularly funny to those whom ever seen Dad drive this back road…The speed limit is 35 mph in some spots and 25 in others…and Dad is so used to driving it, going from church to church, that he sets a record of approximately 45-50 mph, without, even realizing that he’s doing it!

Dorothy Moyer (Now Chinchar) (Who read the same short story that she wrote when my grandfather retired…The Old Straw Hat.), She also brought a picture of her and Dad 25 and ½ years ago when my Dad first came to these Churches, before this he was at Elplers Church in Leesport, PA, and my Grandfather, Rev. John Gulick, was the minister here.

Rev. Jeff Rudloff, was the M.C.. He’s a very funny man, and also a talented singer and pianist. Near the end he sang a song about a minister who dies and the line of people waiting to thank him for all he done for them, and thanking him for helping them find their way to heaven...I never heard this song before, it was a tear jerker to say the very least, and I meant to ask Rev. Rudloff if he wrote it, but, I forgot.

Rev. John Freeman…(He too is retiring) and he spoke about how much he enjoyed being part of the joint services that he and the other Pastors shared. He also said about how much he would miss singing with them, then someone in the audience called out, "You all have to sing ‘The Jericho Mile’ one last time!" Everyone heartily agreed and then the four ministers, Rev. Jeff Rudloff, Rev. Donald Schwenk, Rev. John Freeman, and my Dad sang it one last time and it never sounded sweeter.

Harry (and Sally) Roush spoke, he first gave dad a rake, (Others gave gardening tools also…not for work, but, for leaning on) then after telling a story, he brought out a huge, garbage-bag-wrapped present with the long poles sticking out the bottom. The story went something like this…

"Rev. Shellhamer, you said the other week at services that after you retire, you plan on sitting under a tree with your wife, Nancy, fanning you all day long." Everyone in the audience laughed, they too already heard Dad say this. Then Harry Roush opened the gift; and there it was, not one, but two huge, homemade wooden-fans with the prettiest pictures on them. The one for mom had a patched-quilt-pattern applied to it, while, the one for my dad, had a beautiful painting of a deer and the surrounding woods.

Terry Hafer (not sure of married name)…She represented the Joint Consistery, and she came out bearing a huge, flat present.

Inside, after having some assistance, Dad pulled out a large beautiful scenery picture of Eagles in Flight.

There were so many others, I can’t recall them all, but, it was all so wonderful looking back over the years. But the one that I will never forget—was my own Mom (Nancy Shellhamer) standing up at the podium and telling her view and memories of Dad. She was so very funny, and she sounded like a professional comedian. With Comedians, they say that timing is everything, well she did this to perfection, and we laughed and laughed hysterically. And afterwards we all congratulated her, and she was all smiles. It was a side of mom that I never seen before, and I’ll tell you, I loved every second of it!!!

Mom’s Notes of her speech

Bob Mantz told me I had to say something. I understand this is to be a roast. I could never roast Dale but sometimes I would like to toast him. This is our life in a nutshell…

Dale started out as a little boy . . . and still is one. At age three (As I have been told over and over again) every time a certain man came to visit, Dale recited this little verse…

Here stands I
Three feet High
With a round blue eye
And now, "Good bye"

Every time he said this little verse the visitor gave him a quarter. That was his first speaking assignment…He hasn’t gotten paid much more since then. I am told he was always playing Preacher Man. "Here comes the little preacher" Everyone used to say whenever the family went to visit. By the time he was 5 or 6 years old, he would pretend to be Billy Graham and he had Billy Graham Crusades, which were held in the Knepper Lumber Yards.

About that time I was born. My father as you all know, was also a preacher. And I was the "P.K." The Preacher’s Kid! I swore I would never marry a minister. Well…we both grew up and met, He went to college, Air Force and I went to Nurses Training. We married in 1961 and went to Seminary. He got a Bachelor of Divinity Degree and I got a PHTS Degree—Putting Hubby Through Seminary. Since Seminary Days we had 4 children—3 churches and 4 beautiful grand sons, not always well behaved but great kids.

Dale was always very athletic. He especially loved baseball, archery and hunting. Notice, I said ‘was athletic’. Up to about 2 years ago he could still stand on his head.

He has some very annoying qualities…

On trips he would rather go 100 miles out of the way than ask directions—one of the children gave him a key tag that says, "I’m a Dad, Of course I know where we are"

He hates to ask for help, but would do anything for anybody.

Birthday Joke…39—29, or whatever is really getting old, just like him.

Weird Sense of humor. He loves Born Looser and all those stupid cartoons.

Has all the hymn pages memorized, but can’t remember to give me my messages—or what happened yesterday.

Dale loves music and can play a mean tonette. I should say old tonette.

We’ve had 25 (+) great years at Christ U.C.C. and Zion U.C.C. We also have very special memories of Friedens since we were married, by my father, in Friedens. It is very hard to move out of a home that has been mine for 50+ years. I think I should have Squatter’s rights.

Well, It is time to retire and move on, but we will always remember all you wonderful people…The Joys, tears, and love we shared with you and your loved ones. We will be around and just down the road in Ellis Valley, on Zion Stone Church Valley Road.

In seriousness…he has been a dedicated, and loving husband, father and minister. But, one thing I know he is not going to do in retirement…is sit under a tree and have me fan him all day.

Well that’s the notes from my mom’s speech. Though, she added to it when she actually spoke. I hope you enjoyed this, as it started out for my own journal, tough I thought others would want to remember this special day, especially since I don’t recall seeing any video camera’s at the dinner. I even forgot to bring mine…But, once again I thank you all, just for being there to share this day with my Dad, and, for being part of our lives for so many years.

God Bless and Take Care
Forever yours
Lori Shellhamer

Extra! Click here to see more pictures of the party!

Quick Links

The Rev

A Tribute to a Great Man, a Great Preacher, and a Great Father

Extra! Click here to see more pictures of the party!

A Tribute to a Great Man,
a Great Preacher,
and a Great Father