Leo Allen Shinn, age 96, of Russellville, died Friday, September 19, 2003, at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center. A son of the late Jesse Lee and Nancy Elizabeth Garrison Shinn, he was born July 21, 1907, in the Mill Creek area of Russellville. He graduated from the Russellville High School in 1925, and became the principal of the Lone Gum School in 1926. He graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1930 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry; and graduated from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., 1937 with Master of Arts degrees in both Chemistry and German. He worked for the United States Geological Survey from 1930 to 1931 as a Junior Chemist; for the United States Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, Maryland, as an Assistant Chemist from 1938 to 1943; as an Associate Chemist from 1943 to 1944; and as Chemist from 1944 to 1947. From 1945 until 1946 he was the President of the American Chemical Society. He also worked in the United States Office of Naval Research in Washington, D.C., as a Senior Chemist from 1947 to 1952, and Chief Chemist and Head of the Biochemistry Branch from 1952 until his retirement in 1955. He was also an accomplished violinist and avid fisherman.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Vivien Adrienne Burton Shinn; two brothers, J. L. and Cletis Wayne Shinn; and four sisters, Ruth Austin, Goldie Reed, Naomi Pedersen and Juanita Jones. Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Sheila E. Martin and John Edwin Jones of Russellville; two grandsons and a granddaughter-in-law: Lloyd Moiola and his wife Hollie Hester of Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Michael Breedlove of Brownsboro, Texas; two granddaughters and grandsons-in-law: Leigh Moiola and her husband Bob Clark of Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Michelle and Steve Lavin of Brandon, Mississippi; five great-grandchildren: Addison, Bailey and Grayson Lavin and Nicholas and Taylor Breedlove; and several nephews and nieces.

The body was cremated. A memorial service will be conducted at 2 P.M., Tuesday, September 23, 2003, at the Shinn Chapel with Rev. Ken Kalvesmaki officiating. The cremated remains will be interred in Booher Cemetery, in the Mill Creek area. Arrangements are by Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville.

-From Shinn Funeral Service Online Obit.-