Stephen Robert Shimko

Stephen Robert Shimko, age 85 of Gatesville, passed away on the morning of February 16, 2020 surrounded by his family. Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 pm Thursday, February 20, 2020 at Scott’s Funeral Home with burial following at Oakwood Cemetery in Hamilton. Visitation with the family will be Wednesday, February 19 from 5:00-7:00 pm at the funeral home. Stephen was born on April 27, 1934 in The Bronx, New York, to the late Stephen J. Shimko and Gladys Frawley Shimko. He grew up and attended school in Norwalk, Connecticut and volunteered for the army in 1953. He first arrived in Texas at Fort Bliss, El Paso and later was stationed at North Fort Hood. After completing courses at Texas A&M University in water treatment and analysis, he became the water supervisor and analyst for the City of Hamilton and the City of Lampasas. He married Melba Jean Taylor on May 25, 1956 in Hamilton, Texas and had two children Kimberly Shimko Chumley and Stephen Allen Shimko. Steve and Melba spent 10 years traveling the world and making new friends as Melba led the Heritage Club of First Texas Bank of Lampasas. After retirement, road trips led them throughout New England, Arkansas, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas, always on the lookout for a treasured antique or a special piece of rusty junk. He never met a stranger and was affectionately known as “that Connecticut Yankee”. Steve loved taking his grandchildren and great-grandchildren camping, hunting, and teaching them how to catch that big fish! He was preceded in death by son, Stephen Allen Shimko; grandson, Callan Shimko Chumley; parents, Stephen J. Shimko and Gladys Frawley Shimko; sister, Beverly Swett; brother, Donald Shimko; in-laws, Allen and Olivia Taylor; brother-in-law, Billy Bob Taylor; and sister-in-law, Erma Taylor. Stephen is survived by his wife of 63 years, Melba Shimko; daughter, Kimberly Shimko Chumley and husband Gary; grandchildren, Keegan Chumley Webb and husband Shane, Zachary L. Shimko Chumley and wife Shannon, Zane Stephen Chumley and wife Kayla; great-grandchildren, Callen Webb, Camden Webb, Hayes Chumley, Ellie Chumley, Harper Chumley, and Adlee Chumley; and numerous nieces and nephews.