Carmel "Duff" Shamblin, Jr. went home to be with the Lord on January 28, 2025. Duff was born on March 29, 1931 in Centralia, West Virginia, to Carmel O Shamblin, Sr and Pearl (Holden) Shamblin.

He grew up in a rough-and-tumble coal-mining town in Centralia. Duff's childhood in the mountains led to enjoyable times fishing the streams along the mighty Elk River. An encounter on a childhood fishing trip got him stamped with his nickname. Duff played both football and baseball for Sutton High School.

After high school, the Korean Conflict called, and Duff answered as a new enlisted member of the US Navy. He completed basic training at Naval Station Great Lakes near Chicago. The Navy assigned him to a Landing Ship, Tank (LST). During the war, he occasionally played competitive baseball on the island of Saipan. This led to a lifelong love of the sport, and all things Yogi Berra.

After the war, Duff returned home to West Virginia, where he met and married a sweet beauty, Ruth Ann Ellebrecht. They were married for 68 years – until his death. Inseparable, and best friends, you rarely would see one of them without seeing the other. Always doting on each other and caring for the needs of each other. Their marriage has been an inspiration to many.

Eventually, Duff and Ruth needed to go to where the work was most available. That led them to move to Akron, Ohio, with a brief stint in Mount Storm, West Virginia. In 1957, they watched a Billy Graham Crusade televised from Yankee Stadium. Rev. Graham's teaching helped pique Duff's interest in the gospel, and he and Ruth accepted Christ's gift of salvation a few years later. This changed their direction. It was the pivotal moment in their lives. They were members of the Wadsworth Baptist Temple in Ohio.

Now with a young family, Duff and Ruth eventually moved to Northern Virginia, where they lived most of their working life. Duff was a Materials Supervisor with the Virginia Department of Transportation, and Ruth worked for the phone company. They attended Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria for several years. Later, they were part of Fairfax Baptist Temple, in Burke. Duff served as a deacon for many years. After retirement, they lived in the Front Royal VA area and were members of the Shenandoah Valley Baptist Church. In the last 10 years, they moved to Indianapolis; before health issues got in the way, they attended Grace Bible Church in New Whiteland.

Preceded in death by his parents, his sister Francis Skidmore, and brother Donald Shamblin, Duff is survived by his dear wife Ruth, son Tim and wife Peggy (Calvert) Shamblin, daughter Cheryl and husband Tom Littlejohn. Duff was a proud and sweet grandfather to Gregory Shamblin, Derek and wife Laura (Mangan) Littlejohn, and Carrie Littlejohn; and a great-grandfather to Violet and Anthony.

We are blessed to call Duff the loving patriarch of our family. We miss him dearly, but we are grateful that God gave him to us for so long. Oh what love God has bestowed on us to be called the children of God, and to have someone like Duff in our lives!

Visitation will be held at the Forest Lawn Memory Gardens and Funeral Home – 1977 S State Road 135, Greenwood IN on Monday, February 3, 2025 from 11am-1 pm, with funeral service at 1 pm, and graveside service – including military honors, at 2 pm.

Memorial contributions can be made to http://autismsociety.org/donate.