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William McKinley “Bubba” Shipes, Jr., 85, of Williston, SC passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held at eleven o’clock a.m., Saturday, January 31, 2026 in the Folk Funeral Home Chapel, Williston, SC with the Reverends Scott Shipes and Mike McAlpin officiating; burial will follow in the Williston Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Saturday. Honored to serve as pallbearers are Kevin Anderson, Buddy Brady, Lonnie Dyches, Tim Gantt, Kevin Lawson, and Cole Page. Honorary pallbearer will be Keith Anderson. Memorial contributions may be sent to Edisto Baptist Church, P.O. Box 70, Williston, SC 29853.
Born in Elko, SC, he was a son of the late William McKinley Shipes, Sr. and Florrie Catherine Evans Shipes and was married to Patty Hunter Shipes for 64 years. Bubba was a member of Edisto Baptist Church where he served as a deacon. He previously owned and managed Main Street Auto Parts for many years. He was a member of the Hope Masonic Lodge # 126 where he was a Past Master and the Square and Compass Club. Bubba served as a Lieutenant on the Original Williston Rescue Squad and was a member of the Williston Volunteer Fire Department. He loved fishing, the Clemson Tigers and making boat paddles for his friends.
Survivors include his loving wife, Patty Shipes of the home; his brother, Jerry Shipes; his daughter, Sherry Shipes; sons, Michael Shipes, Steven (Kim) Shipes, Scott (Tonya) Shipes, Robbie (Janice) Shipes; grandchildren, William Shipes (Beth), Dr. Berlene Shipes (Scott Howard), Makenzie (Tyler) Smith, Hunter, Chandler, Parker, Joe, Joshua, Carter, Hampton, Michael, and Johnathan Shipes; great grandchildren, Oliver, Stella, Voss, Vivienne, Noah, Raleigh, Rigby, Dalton, Blake, Arijah, and Hailey.
He was preceded in death by a son, David Shipes and his sister, Yvonne Harmon.
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