Alan Raymond Shipp

Alan Raymond Shipp, age 68, of Dallas, GA, passed away on Monday, October 22, 2018.  He was a loving husband and father, a respected businessman, and a devoted servant to his church and to the local community where he was raised and made his home.  He was a man of amazing grace, who saw the good in all people, and a man of vision, who planted trees not only for his own pleasure but also for the enjoyment of future generations.

Alan was born on February 1, 1950, in Atlanta, GA.  He graduated from Dallas High School in 1968 and started college at Georgia Tech.  He later transferred and graduated with a Chemistry degree from Emory University but remained a lifelong Georgia Tech fan.  Alan served in the United States Air Force Reserve from 1972 to 1978.  Alan and his loving wife, Jeanne, were married 42 years.  Alan took great pride in his home and his family, especially his daughters Leigh and Kathryn.

In 1976, Alan joined Abner Towers and John Trotter at Ajay Chemicals, a start-up business specializing in iodine products.  In the ensuing years, he became CEO of Ajay-SQM Group, growing the company to include the flagship plant, Ajay North America, LLC, in Powder Springs, GA, and three additional plants in Chile and France.
The Lord blessed Alan with many gifts and talents, which enabled him to be as comfortable in business meetings all over the world as he was bush-hogging and building fences on his beloved property in Dallas, GA.  Always hardworking, he came home from long days at work, changed clothes, and began work on projects he had going at home.

Alan was a lifelong devoted and supportive member of Dallas First United Methodist Church.  In his service to the church, he acted as the Chair of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee and of the Board of Trustees.  He served on the Finance Committee to build the Family Life Center, taught senior high school Sunday School, and proudly served many years as usher on the first Sunday of each month.  When the church first started international missions, he participated in the early trips to build churches in Mexico.  In recent years he volunteered for local mission projects.

Alan was a founding member of the Paulding County Civil Service Board and a member of the Paulding County Library Board when the first county library opened.  In recent years, he served on the Paulding County Airport Authority, the Local and Regional Economic Development Board, Industrial Building Authority, the Wellstar Paulding Hospital Authority and the Wellstar Paulding Regional Board.

Alan was preceded in death by his father, John S. Shipp, Jr, and brother, John S. Shipp III.  Survivors include his wife, Jeanne Oakes Shipp of Dallas, GA; daughters, Leigh (Daniel) Muniz of Los Angeles, CA, and Kathryn (Joe) Rhyne of Marietta, GA; mother, Mary Kate Rakestraw Shipp of Dallas, GA; brother, Brian Kincaid Shipp of Rockmart, GA; brothers-in-law, Larry Jarrett of Dallas, GA, and James H. Oakes of Villa Rica, GA; sister-in-law, Hilda Cates Shipp of Buchanan, GA; grandchildren, Olivia Mae Muniz, Luke Henry Muniz, Aaron Shipp Muniz, and Joseph Adam Rhyne, Jr; mother-in-law Ethel Gonzalez of Villa Rica, GA; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2018, at 11am, from Clark Funeral Home, with Dr. Ken Ray officiating.  Interment will follow in Paulding Memorial Gardens.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday, October 24, 2018, from 4pm until 8pm, and Thursday, October 25, 2018, from 9:30am until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Finishing in Faith at Dallas First United Methodist Church at 143 East Memorial Drive, Dallas, GA 30132.

Please feel free to leave online condolences to the family at www.samclarkfuneralhome.com.