Orlie Elvena Shipman

In Loving Memory of Orlie Elvena Shipman

1940 - 2026

After eighty-five remarkable years, (Dr.) Mrs. Orlie Elvena Shipman passed into the presence of her Savior in glory on May 29, 2026. She was preceded by her parents, Luke and Susie Winton, siblings Elton Winton, Valeta Viola, and Eulene Smith, as well as her husband of 62 years, Dr. Don Shipman and her son Dr. Jonathan “Johnny” Shipman.

Born in Bowie, Texas on December 29, 1940, Elvena lived a life of love for her family, enthusiasm for the ministry, and an unwavering spirit of love and commitment to Jesus Christ. Known for her immense talents in music, art, child evangelism, ladies ministry, calligraphy, and cake decorating, Mrs. Shipman found her greatest joy in teaching piano, the Bible, and in training others in ministry. Her consuming desire was a commitment to serve Christ will all her talents and abilities.

Saved at age seven, Elvena Shipman started piano at nine, when she also became church pianist, and played for her first wedding and funeral. By age twelve, she was the leading piano teacher in the city, and she committed her life to full-time service for Christ at age fifteen. Soon, at a church revival she met the love of her life, Don Shipman, and at age eighteen, they were married and later blessed with four children.

Together with her husband, Dr. Don Shipman, Mrs. Shipman was a pastor’s wife assisting in five churches, as well as two more after his passing for 67 years of ministry. She was a professor of piano and child evangelism and taught art and other music courses at Bible Baptist Seminary and Arlington Baptist University for seventeen years. She travelled in Evangelism with her family for seven years to churches in twenty-eight states. She was the pianist for the Messiah performances for about twenty years and in national pastor conferences for sixty-one years, and led the ladies meetings of these conferences for about fifty years. And she was involved in youth ministries at six youth camps, many Vacation Bible Schools and trained youth in music, drama and speech.

Mrs. Shipman graduated from Louisiana Baptist University (BA), had graduate studies at Bible Baptist Seminary, and a Doctorate of Christian Education from Texas Baptist Bible College. She traveled to England and much of Europe on a missions trip, and made five trips to Israel and the Middle East. She also was principal of a Christian School, taught at Trinity Valley Baptist College, University of Texas (Arlington) and gave occasional master classes in music and ministry.

Mrs. Elvena Shipman will be deeply missed by her children, Dr. Lonnie Shipman, Dr. Johnny Shipman (deceased), Ronnie Shipman and Melanie Shipman Webb; grandchildren, Elizabeth Norris, Jonathan Webb, Stephanie Whiddon, Stephen Webb, Anna Shipman, Katie Shipman and a host of family and friends, as we look to a happy reunion in heaven with our blessed Savior.