Wichita, Kan.—Stanley Max Skiles, 82, of Wichita, Kan., and a longtime collision industry veteran, died on Nov. 10, his family reports. Skiles founded Body Shop Equipment Inc. in 2002 where he flourished in sales and customer relationships.
His professional career began by completing his auto body and paint certification at Wichita Vo-Tech in 1977. After his graduation, he worked painting semi-truck cabs at Doonan Trucking for the next two years and then for several local body shops before opening his own body shop in Haysville, Kan., called Rebuild and Refinish Body Shop, which he operated until 1986.
After being in and around body shops for most of his career, he accepted a sales position with a paint supply company that had just entered the Wichita market. After helping grow the market share for that company, he was offered another sales position with Chief Automotive, where he found great success and was able to provide for his family over the next 15 years, before launching Body Shop Equipment.
“Stan is a great loss to our state’s collision industry,” said Jeff Oldenettel, president of the Kansas Auto Body Association (KABA). “For most, if not all of you, Stan Skiles was a familiar face and a friend in your time within the industry. He is the one person in my 20-plus years in the collision world who has been a constant. He was a great supporter of the KABA and of anyone who got to know him. Always quick and happy to help, Stan went everywhere we did for KABA events and was thrilled to see momentum growing for our industry. Stan was always an influencer and cared for every person he dealt with.”
A memorial has been established with the Clearwater Church of Christ and the Churches of Christ Disaster Relief.
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