Short spent his adult years communicating by spoken and written word his faith as evidenced in familiar settings to which his congregants or readers could relate.
Short was born in 1932 in Big Spring, Texas. He received a B.A. degree from the University of Oklahoma, an M.Div. from Southern Methodist University, an M.A. in English from Northern Texas University, an M.A. in Theology and Literature from the University of Chicago, and did work toward a Ph.D. in systematic theology from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Illinois.
For a time after he completed seminary, and before beginning his work as a writer and speaker, Short worked as an actor, and was a director of religious dramas.
In 1965, his book, The Gospel According to Peanuts was the year’s bestseller in non-fiction. It has been translated into 11 languages. He is also the author of The Parables of Peanuts (1968), The Gospel from Outer Space (1983), The Gospel According to Dogs (2003), and The Parables According to Dr. Seuss (2008), among others.
His congregation ministries included associate pastor of First Church, Brighton, Mich., and minister of First Church, Monticello, Ark. He was a member of Pines Presbytery.
Survivors include his wife, Kay; their three children: Becky DiCola, Sarah Kabalka, and Chris Shirt; a sister, Helen Flood; five grandchildren, and a niece.
