John W. "Wally" Skeens, 81, passed away Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at his home in rural Redkey, Indiana following an extended illness.

Wally was born December 20, 1934 in Gill, West Virginia to the late Ray and Ethel (Miller) Skeens. He married Shirley Elkins on May 27th, 1957. Wally worked for 34 years at Indiana Glass before his retirement in 2000. He was a member of the First Freewill Baptist church of Dunkirk. He enjoyed listening and playing southern bluegrass gospel music. He performed with his wife, Shirley; friends, Don and Ruth Adkins; and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Roger and Charlotte McCormick. In the 1980''s they performed on WLBC and WPGW radio and also in West Virginia, Tennessee, and Ohio.

Wally is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Shirley Skeens; a daughter, Pamela Skeens-Curtis (husband Bill) of Redkey; four grandchildren, James Curtis III (fianc Kate Dawson), Emily Curtis, Tasney Curtis, and Lena Curtis; a great-grandson, James William Curtis IV; two sisters, Anna Jean Cook and Devetta Nelson both of South Point, OH; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Wally was preceded in death by four brothers, Charles, Danny, Edward, and Paul Skeens.

The family would like to thank the staff of IU Health Ball Memorial Hospice Program for their care of Wally. A special thank you to his favorite nurse, Daniel.

A funeral service to celebrate Wally''s life will be held at 1:00 P.M. Friday, April 22, 2016 at Garden View Funeral Home 10501 N. State Road 3 in Muncie. Burial will follow in Gardens of Memory Cemetery.

Friends and family may gather to share and remember from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Thursday, April 21, 2016 and one hour prior to services Friday at Garden View Funeral Home.