Aug. 21, 1928 Aug. 27, 2017

Phillip Edward "Ed" Shellinger passed away Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017, at his home in Fairbanks.

Ed celebrated his 89th birthday in August with family and friends, grinning as he helped blow out the candles.

He came to Fairbanks in 1969 with his wife, Lillie, and children Mark and Sandy, to teach at North Pole Junior High School.

Ed had heard the call of the North, cold-called the Fairbanks superintendent and was hired the next day.

In Fairbanks, he later served as the dean of boys at Lathrop high school, followed by the vice-principalship of West Lathrop in preparation for the opening of West Valley in 1976.

Ed was a strong proponent of better schools and educational options for students and advocated for a new high school in North Pole.

He served as principal at North Pole Junior and Senior high schools, and opened its first high school.

A street near the school is named in his honor.

Ed grew up in Sheridan, Wyoming, where he learned to fish and hunt.

He paid for his post-secondary education at the University of Wyoming and Chadron State Teachers' College by starting a sandwich business, serving students after hours.

He played college football, tennis and basketball. In 1951, Ed fell in love with and married Lillie Parris, a university student from Custer, South Dakota.

He later was drafted by the U.S. Army, but his entrepreneurial spirit and experience landed him a PX manager's position in Japan during the Korean war.

Ed began his teaching career in Benkelman, Nebraska, running the junior high woodshop program and coaching boys and girl's sports teams.

He soon moved his young family to Henderson, Nevada, where Ed worked as a high school teacher, basketball coach and summer manager of the public swimming pool in Boulder City, Nevada.

Like many teachers, Ed worked second and third jobs throughout the school year and summer, including in the money counting rooms at Circus Circus in Las Vegas, a mining claim in the Interior, commercial fishing in Valdez, counseling at the Alaska State Correctional facility and fighting fires for the Bureau of Land Management in Alaska.

Ed led several high school teams to regional and state championships while in Nevada and was a proponent of comprehensive high school programs offering a wide array of academic and vocational programs.

He worked as an NCAA basketball referee and was highly respected and requested by coaches and athletic directors.

At West Valley, Lathrop and North Pole high schools, Ed was a constant presence, helping students do the right things.

His happy and enthusiastic greetings of students across the parking lots, playing fields and common areas made clear he was on their side and that all problems and transgressions could be overcome.

Ed was always first to help with extracurricular activities for students and always would do a bit extra for students and their families.

Many parents told Ed throughout his career and during retirement that he made the difference with their children with his constantly positive approach and insistence on living up to one's values and beliefs.

Ed was an avid fisherman and hunter and participated in many trips and adventures with friends.

Ed loved to prepare elaborate meals at fish camp and was touted as the fish whisperer as he would "talk" fish onto his hook.

His infectious laugh lifted the spirits of his friends, neighbors and colleagues.

Ed often could be seen during retirement sitting in his boat in front of his house planning and preparing the next big adventure.

Ed retired in 1983, and was elected to serve on the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly.

Ed and Lillie believed coming to Alaska was the best move they ever made.

They both received in-home care in later years, so they could live out their lives in their own home in the town they loved.

Ed is survived by his sister, Mary Gwen Brayton, of Sheridan, Wyoming; son, Mark, and his wife, Carol; daughter, Sandy, and her husband, Roy Merritt; and granddaughter, Jessica, and her husband, Gino Cimino.

They all remember Ed as a can-do guy who could fix or create anything and loved making others happy in the process.

Two special family members live in Fairbanks, Walt Warner and Lynette Mailloux.

They provided in-home care around the clock for Ed for 11 years.

Ed viewed Walt and Lynette as family members, and their relationship was close, loving and trusting.

Warner Home Care, Walt and Chris Warner, work with many Fairbanks families to ensure that loved ones can live out their lives in their own homes.

The family also thanks Dr. Jenny Lessner, Tanana Valley Clinic, and Scott Winners and others from FMH for the loving and personalized support and care they gave Ed over the years.

A private family service is planned this summer. Condolence and memory cards can be sent to family members at P.O. Box 60475, Fairbanks, AK 99706.

Ed believed that his work with the students he cared about so much would outlive him.

His family is convinced he was right. If you want to do something to honor Ed's memory, volunteer to help out a little bit at a local school. Or, just call out a genuine, hearty greeting to the next person you see who needs a little good cheer; that's what Ed always did.

Daily News-Miner - Aug. 30, 2017