Obituary of Kathryn L. Shimp

Kathryn Lenore (Franzen) Shimp of Stow Creek Township went to be with her Lord and Savior in heaven on Monday, September 10, 2018.  She came into the world on Friday, July 13, 1931 as a “blue baby” to the late Rudolph and Erma Edwards Franzen of Monroeville. Through the help and loving care of a Hungarian aunt and her German grandparents, she grew up and learned the value of hard work on her parents’ dairy farm and family farm machinery business in Woodstown.  Kathryn graduated from the Woodstown High School. She loved playing field hockey in high school and was Co-captain of the team. She was a member of the high school’s band.  Kathryn entered a writing contest and won an opportunity to meet with cowboy actor and singer, Gene Autry.  She attended Camden County Commercial School, a division of Rutgers University.  Kathryn loved airplanes and often flew with her older brother.  Her dream was to become an English teacher and although her life took her in another direction, she never lost her love of prose and poetry, reading aloud to her children every day.  

In November of 1951, Kathryn L. Franzen married Newton B. Shimp II of Bridgeton and began farming in Stow Creek Township.  After the sudden death of her husband in February of 1975, Mrs. Shimp continued driving a school bus and then a school van for Cumberland Regional for more than thirty years.  She became the first licensed woman grain broker in New Jersey.  She was honored by a visit to the farm from Frank Perdue of the Perdue Chicken Enterprise.  Local farmers sought her expertise and she also served on the board of the Cumberland County Farmer’s Home Administration.  She helped establish Shimp Trucking, Inc. and assisted her son until suffering a traumatic brain injury in July 2005.  She was an excellent business woman. Kathryn was a strong, dedicated and kind- hearted friend who was always willing to help anyone.  She loved animals and would feed stray cats or any other hungry animal; even baby foxes.  She loved to reminisce about life on the farm, the crops and animals and especially her life during World War II.  She was a dear, sweet woman who will be sadly missed by all who knew her.

In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Shimp was predeceased by her brother, Donald E. Franzen of Monroeville.  Surviving are three children; Mrs. Gwen Gates (Earl) of Waynesboro, PA, Gayle Carroll Lee (Willy) of Mullica Hill, NJ, and Newton (Buddy) Shimp of Bridgeton. Also, surviving are grandchildren; Rebecca Allison (Darren) and Lucas Gates of Waynesboro, Hannah Lee of Mullica Hill, and Benjamin Shimp (friend, Crystal) of Bridgeton, Tommy Swanson of Mays Landing, John Brown, a special young man whom she helped raise of Bridgeton, a great grandson, Brenton Allison and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 13^th at 11 AM at the Padgett Funeral Home, 1107 State Highway 77, Upper Deerfield Township. Burial will immediately follow at Friesburg Emanuel Lutheran Cemetery.  Friends may call one hour prior to the services at the funeral home.   In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to any worthwhile charity.