Howard R. "Mink" Shepherd, 87, of Terre Haute died Monday morning, March 17, 2014 in his residence. He was retired from Wabash Fiber Box Company where he had worked for 47 years. Mink was born January 22, 1927 in Terre Haute to Pearl Shepherd and Laura Boltz Shepherd. Survivors include his loving wife of 64 years, Elizabeth A. "Betty" Royer Shepherd; six children, Eva Koontz of Winslow, IL, Kathy Beard of Terre Haute, Margaret Lockard and her husband, Dan, of Terre Haute, Howard Shepherd and his wife, Maria, of Canton, GA, Jim Shepherd and his wife, Teresa, of Terre Haute and Dana Goodwin and her husband, Jeff, of Terre Haute; 20 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Robert Shepherd, Roy "Pug" Shepherd, Harry Shepherd and Frank "Pat" Shepherd; a sister, Eva Archer; two grandsons, Scotty Fennell and Dominique Goodwin; and one granddaughter, Piper Goodwin. Mink was a graduate of Gerstmeyer High School and was a Veteran of World War II having served with the United States Army in Germany. He was a member of St. Benedict Catholic Church, member and Past Commander of Lawton Byrum Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #972, Past Commander of VFW District 6, All American Commander 1990-1991, Terre Haute Lodge #19 F & AM, Scottish Rite Valley of Terre Haute, Member of Honor and Honorable Patron of Bethel #79 and International Order of Jobs Daughters. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, March 22, 2014 in Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home, 605 South 25th Street, with Father Ed Goldbach, O.F.M. officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery with Military Graveside Honors provided by VFW Post #972. Visitation is scheduled prior to services on Saturday from 10:00 - 11:00 A.M. in the funeral home. The family kindly requests that memorial contributions may be made to the funeral home to help defray burial expenses (605 South 25th Street, Terre Haute, IN 47803) or to Riley Hospital for Children, c/o Riley Children's Foundation, 30 South Meridian Street, Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46204-3509. Funeral information may also be found at www.callahanandhughes.com .
