Roll of Honor
Incident
Game Warden John Shank died as the result of complications of injuries sustained the previous day when he fell into May's Branch, near Eagle Rock, Botetourt County, while investigating reports of fishing out of season.
He was climbing a small cliff when a tree gave way and he fell into the water eight feet below. A man who had been accompanying him pulled him from the water and revived him after about 15 minutes of being unconscious. He was taken to his home where he died the following day after developing double pneumonia.
Warden Shank had served with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for at least 10 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, two sisters, and three grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-A92C86CF- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Game Warden Shank gave the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Henrico community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Game Warden Shank.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Game Warden John Franklin Shank is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In VA, 203 of 654 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31% of this state's fallen.
At Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, 4 of 11 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 36.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Franklin Shank's cause is highlighted.
How John Franklin Shank Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John Franklin Shank is highlighted in Mar.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources are honored on badge.nw.
