Obit Index
Updated: 17 Jan 2012

Daily Oklahoman, The 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 
November 10, 1993

John Francis Shirk, Glendora, Ca., born 24 June 1917, died 8 November 1993. He was the son of the late John H. and Carrier Hinderer Shirk and was preceded in death by his wife, Maxine Moody Shirk of Cushing and two brothers, George H. and Paul R.

He is survived by his daughter, Mrs. James Buchholz, Auwahnee, Ca.; grandson, Justin; sister, Lucyl of Oklahoma City; and his very special and longtime friend, Mrs. Laura Jordan, Hemet, Ca. He was raised in the First Lutheran Church of Oklahoma City and his absolute faith in God sustained him throughout his life. He graduated from Central High School, where he starred in football as an end on the All State Championship teams and in track, where he held the all time high school record for the discus throw. John matriculated to the University of Oklahoma, where he pledged Phi Delta Theta. There he continued in the sports that he loved, playing on the Big Six Championship team in the Orange Bowl and again setting an all time record in the discus throw. In 194 0, he was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals and played with that pro football team until his induction into the Army as a captain in the Field Artillery. At the invasion of Salerno, he was captured and sent to a German prison camp in Poland.

Following the war, John moved to California to establish JOSCO Plastics which grew into a multi-million dollar industry before his retirement and take over by American Hospital. Interment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery with a private graveside service.

Oct 14, 1943, page 18

Lieut John Shirk, an end on the University of Oklahoma's Orange bowl team, is believed to be a prisoner of the Germans, his mother, Mrs. John H. Shirk, 626 NE 16, has been advised by the war department. In the 1940 season, after his graduation from Oklahoma, Shirk played with the pro Chicago Cardinals.

         John Shirk

June 29, 1945

Lieut. John Shirt, one of Oklahoma's great end on Tom Stidham's football juggernauts of the late thirties, is home after a length hitch as a German prisoner of war.  Shirk was captured in the battle of Saleno, he was called to active duty in February 1941 and went overseas a year later.

Jan 30, 1937

John H. Shirk was re-elected president of the city Camp Fire Girls council at a meeting of the board of directors Friday night.

August 25, 1963

The marriage setting of Miss Jill Stephanie Shirk daughter of Mr. & Mrs. John R. Shirk, Sr. and Ernest William Cockrell, son of Mrs. Herman William Cockrell, Idabel, and the later Mr. Cockrell was the Zion United Church of Christ.

Sources:  good faith fair use of sources stated above

Compiled, transcribed and submitted by Marti Graham, Oklahoma County, OKGenWeb Coordinator, January 2009. Information posted for educational purposes for viewers and researchers. The contributor is not related to nor researching any of the above.

I believe in random acts of kindness and I believe in sharing genealogy. If you have copies of photos, obituaries, wills, biographies, or stories relating to any of these families or other Oklahoma County families, would you consider sending them my way for publication at this site?

I always welcome comments and corrections.