Bipin Gulabdas Shah, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away
peacefully on August 15, 2025, at the age of 89. He is survived by his devoted wife of
57 years, Karuna Shah, his children Nina Garas (Samer) and Amit Shah (Beth Fisher),
and his cherished grandchildren Nicholas, Alexis, Sofia, and Deven.

He was born in 1936 in the small village of Shahada, Maharashtra, India, the seventh of
eleven children to Lilavati and Gulabdas. Despite the hardships of rural village life—no
running water, no electricity, and constant uncertainty—he and all of his siblings
survived, a rare and remarkable outcome at that time. He grew up drawing water from
the family well, playing by the river, and sharing mischief with his brothers and sisters.
He often recalled skipping school with his brother to go to the movies, only to be caught
and punished by their eldest brother, Bhagwan, who fasted for three days in for their
transgression, leaving them with a lifelong lesson about responsibility and family duty.
Education was always important to him, but after high school the family did not have the
money to send him to college. Instead, he joined the Indian Air Force, where he served
with discipline and pride. When his term of service ended, he enrolled at Maharaja
Sayajirao University in Baroda, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering.
As he aged, one story he repeated the most from his early years was of his final college
entrance examinations in Mumbai. His father passed away just as the exams began, but
his brother, Bhagwan, instructed the family to keep the news from him until afterward,
so he could succeed without distraction. That gesture of sacrifice and love became a
touchstone for him throughout his life.

In 1977, at the age of 41, he immigrated to the United States, settling in St. Louis. A
year later, in August 1978, his wife and children joined him. He went on to build a career
in the aerospace industry, supervising the construction of aircraft parts for national
defense.

Even as he built a new life in America, he carried with him the stories of his childhood in
India. He often told of the day Mahatma Gandhi died, when, as a boy of eleven or
twelve, he joined a mourning procession walking to honor his legacy. He was swept
along for miles before a neighbor recognized him and brought him safely home.
Beyond his work, he found joy in the simple pleasures of life. In India, he loved following
cricket, and after moving to the United States he became a devoted St. Louis Cardinals
fan. He also loved Hindi music and movies from his youth. In more recent years, he
delighted in puzzles and word searches, which kept his mind sharp and gave him quiet
satisfaction.

He will be remembered for his warmth, resilience, and devotion to family. Above all, he
found his greatest joy in his 57-year marriage to Karuna, the success of his children,
and the love of his grandchildren. His life was a bridge—from the scarcity of his
childhood village to the opportunities of America, from struggle to stability, and from
stories of the past to the bright hopes of the future generations he leaves behind.

A service and memorial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 22, 2025, at St.
Louis Cremation, 2135 Chouteau Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63103.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation at
https://curethekids.org/.