Background
He was born on October 28, 1881, in Plymouth, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, the son of Congressman George W. Shonk (1850–1900) and Ida Elizabeth (Klotz) Shonk (1856–1911).
He was born on October 28, 1881, in Plymouth, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, the son of Congressman George W. Shonk (1850–1900) and Ida Elizabeth (Klotz) Shonk (1856–1911).
He graduated from Wesleyan University in 1903. And from Harvard Law School in 1906.
On June 20, 1917, he enlisted in the United States. Army. Afterwards he engaged in the oil business. He died on September 26, 1930, in White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York, after an operation for appendicitis.
And was buried at the Saint James the Less Cemetery in Scarsdale.
Shonk was a member of the New York State Assembly (Westchester Company, 2nd Doctorate) in 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930. And was Chairman of the Committee on Aviation from 1928 to 1930.