Merle James “Jim” Shank, age 90, of Newark, DE left this world on Friday, June 28, 2013 at his home in Newark, DE surrounded by his family and friends. Born June 5, 1923 on a farm near Clear Spring, MD, he was the son of the late Russell J. and Pearl E. (Snyder) Shank.

Jim served with the 99th Infantry Division in Europe during WWII and was a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge. After the war he worked as a civilian technician for the Army Signal Corps in Japan for thirteen years. Upon returning to the States, he worked for General Electric telecommunications out of Lynchburg, VA. There he progressed from field engineer to project manager and eventually became regional sales representative in the northeast. Jim also managed overseas contracts for GE in Japan, South Vietnam, Thailand and Panama. He later worked for Motorola as a sales representative and then for Delmarva Power, where he retired in 1989.

Jim is survived by his loving wife Ana I. Tapia; his sister, Thelma Turner; his niece Carol Johnson, along with many other nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. He was predeceased by his four brothers and a sister.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, July 3, 2013 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Roman Catholic Church, 345 Christiana Rd., Bear, DE 19701. Family and friends may visit beginning at 10:00 AM. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, contribution checks may be made in Jim’s name, payable to the American Heart Association and mailed to R.T. Foard & Jones Funeral Home, 122 W. Main St., Newark, DE 19711, or payable to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church and mailed to 345 Christiana Rd., Bear, DE 19701.