William "Bill" Shiner, Ph.D., 83, died on November 18, 2018 in Wytheville, Virginia. Born in Fredericksburg, VA July 14, 1935, he was the son of Hubert Harrison Shiner and Mildred Farley Shiner, both deceased. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Gayle Peoples Shiner; a son, James William Shiner, Jr. (Vicki) and daughter, Elizabeth Shiner Klein (Karl); 3 grandchildren, Katy Garrett, Amy Garrett, and Will Shiner; a brother, Hillman Shiner; cousins; and several nieces and nephews.

Bill graduated in 1953 from Petersburg (VA) High School and in 1957 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) with a B.S. in Forestry and Wildlife Conservation.  He was a member of the VPI Corps of Cadets and in the famed "Highty Tighties", the Cadet Regimental Band, serving as the band's Executive Officer in his senior year.

After serving 2 years on active duty with the U.S. Army's 504 ^th Military Police Battalion as a platoon leader, he served an additional 10 years in the U. S. Army Reserves, honorably discharged at the rank of Captain.  He was a forester with the Elmon Gray & Co. (Waverly, VA) and a forest surveyor for the Hercules Powder Company (GA and FL).  Additionally, he was a science teacher and outdoor educator with the Bradford County High School (FL).

He returned to school at the University of Florida, earning a M.S. in Forestry, followed by a Ph.D. in Forest Recreation from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University.

Following completion of his doctoral studies, he accepted a position to start the Department of Parks and Recreation at Slippery Rock State College (now Slippery Rock University) in Pennsylvania where he served as chair and professor for 31 years. His service to SRU was honored by being named a Professor Emeritus following his retirement.  While at SRU, he was instrumental in inaugurating a number of innovative programs with the National Park Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilderness Education Association, among others.

His near life-long love of Boy Scouting garnered him a number of awards and recognitions including Eagle Scout, Distinguished Eagle Scout, the Silver Beaver, Gold Hornaday Award among others.  As a Scouter, he served in numerous positions including Scoutmaster of Troop 311 in Slippery Rock, PA; Vice-President for Programs and Camping Chairman for the Moraine Trails Council (PA), and Conservation Chairman of the Blue Ridge Mountains Council (VA).  He served as Conservation Chairman for the 1973, 1977, 1981, 1984, and 1987 National Scout Jamboree and served, with his son on the conservation staff at the 2010 Jamboree and his grandson also attended.  He served as a staff member for the National Camp School for the Voyager Program (NY).  In addition, he served on the National Camping and National Conservation Committees.

Over his career, he authored or co-authored a number of professional articles, and books.  His Park Ranger Handbook has been used as a guide for parks professionals as well as a textbook for University courses.  He assisted in writing the 1999 and 2004 editions of the Boy Scout Fieldbook , the Backpacking Merit Badge booklet, and the course syllabus for the Wilderness Trek Leadership Course among other scout publications.  He completed a family history of his mother's family (Farley) and father's family (Shiner). An avid Civil War researcher, he published several publications in that area as well.

Bill sang in a number of choirs through the years, often as a featured soloist.  Most recently he sang with the Max Meadows Community Choir and the Fort Chiswell UMC Choir. He was a member of the Fort Chiswell UMC where he also served on several committees.

A service will be conducted at 2 p.m., with visitation from 12-2, on Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at the Barnett Funeral Home in Wytheville.  Online condolences may be shared on highlandfuneralservice.com.

The family wishes to express their thanks to the staff at the Wytheville Carrington Place and at the Wythe County Community Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dr. Bill Shiner Scholarship at Slippery Rock University, c/o Slippery Rock University Foundation,1 Morrow Way, Slippery Rock, PA 16057; or Boy Scouts at the Moraine Trails Council, 830 Morton Ave. Butler, PA 16001 or to the Blue Ridge Mountains Council, PO Box 7606, Roanoke, VA 24019.