Shirley Helen (Nelson) Strawn, 88, formerly of Wenatchee, WA, passed away Thursday, March 22, 2012, at Grant Manor Nursing Home in Williamstown, KY., after a two-year battle with lung cancer.
Shirley was born on November 8, 1923, in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Arthur L. Nelson and Sarah Helen (Hickin) Nelson.
She cared deeply about her country and joined the United States Coast Guard and served as a Coast Guard SPAR (women's active duty corps) in 1943, leaving the service in 1946. She was proud of her time as a SPAR for the rest of her life.
Subsequently, she moved to California and was an Executive Secretary for the Southern California Edison Company for 25 years.
It was in California that she met Donald A. Strawn, whom she married in 1965.
They moved to East Wenatchee in 1972, and later to Wenatchee and attended the First Presbyterian Church of Wenatchee, where Don served as Director of Christian Education and later as Calling Pastor from March 1, 1973, to 1980.
Don passed away in 1996, and Shirley moved back to California in 1999, and then to Williamstown, KY in early 2009, to be close to lifelong friend and former East Wenatchee resident, Doug Thoroughman and his wife, Gwen, and family.
Shirley lived an independent and Christ-filled life and was loved by the many friends she made across the country, including her last three years in Williamstown.
She kept abreast of political events, read voraciously, and was always well-informed.
Despite losing some of her independence in her final year due to illness, Shirley was a very loved and respected resident of the nursing home and even made friends with several patrons of a local McDonald's, where she loved to go to lunch weekly with a special hospice volunteer.
Survivors include two brothers, Robert A. (Lillian); and Ronald J. (Ginny); two step-sons, Paul (Kathy) and Chuck (Connie); five grandchildren; and many close friends.
Interment will be held at the Abraham Lincoln National Veteran's Cemetery in Joliette, IL, with Military Honors, at 1:00 p.m. Friday, May 4, 2012.
Wenatchee World - Sunday, April 29, 2012
Shirley was born on November 8, 1923, in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Arthur L. Nelson and Sarah Helen (Hickin) Nelson.
She cared deeply about her country and joined the United States Coast Guard and served as a Coast Guard SPAR (women's active duty corps) in 1943, leaving the service in 1946. She was proud of her time as a SPAR for the rest of her life.
Subsequently, she moved to California and was an Executive Secretary for the Southern California Edison Company for 25 years.
It was in California that she met Donald A. Strawn, whom she married in 1965.
They moved to East Wenatchee in 1972, and later to Wenatchee and attended the First Presbyterian Church of Wenatchee, where Don served as Director of Christian Education and later as Calling Pastor from March 1, 1973, to 1980.
Don passed away in 1996, and Shirley moved back to California in 1999, and then to Williamstown, KY in early 2009, to be close to lifelong friend and former East Wenatchee resident, Doug Thoroughman and his wife, Gwen, and family.
Shirley lived an independent and Christ-filled life and was loved by the many friends she made across the country, including her last three years in Williamstown.
She kept abreast of political events, read voraciously, and was always well-informed.
Despite losing some of her independence in her final year due to illness, Shirley was a very loved and respected resident of the nursing home and even made friends with several patrons of a local McDonald's, where she loved to go to lunch weekly with a special hospice volunteer.
Survivors include two brothers, Robert A. (Lillian); and Ronald J. (Ginny); two step-sons, Paul (Kathy) and Chuck (Connie); five grandchildren; and many close friends.
Interment will be held at the Abraham Lincoln National Veteran's Cemetery in Joliette, IL, with Military Honors, at 1:00 p.m. Friday, May 4, 2012.
Wenatchee World - Sunday, April 29, 2012
Shirley Helen (Nelson) Strawn, 88, formerly of Wenatchee, WA, passed away Thursday, March 22, 2012, at Grant Manor Nursing Home in Williamstown, KY., after a two-year battle with lung cancer.
Shirley was born on November 8, 1923, in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Arthur L. Nelson and Sarah Helen (Hickin) Nelson.
She cared deeply about her country and joined the United States Coast Guard and served as a Coast Guard SPAR (women's active duty corps) in 1943, leaving the service in 1946. She was proud of her time as a SPAR for the rest of her life.
Subsequently, she moved to California and was an Executive Secretary for the Southern California Edison Company for 25 years.
It was in California that she met Donald A. Strawn, whom she married in 1965.
They moved to East Wenatchee in 1972, and later to Wenatchee and attended the First Presbyterian Church of Wenatchee, where Don served as Director of Christian Education and later as Calling Pastor from March 1, 1973, to 1980.
Don passed away in 1996, and Shirley moved back to California in 1999, and then to Williamstown, KY in early 2009, to be close to lifelong friend and former East Wenatchee resident, Doug Thoroughman and his wife, Gwen, and family.
Shirley lived an independent and Christ-filled life and was loved by the many friends she made across the country, including her last three years in Williamstown.
She kept abreast of political events, read voraciously, and was always well-informed.
Despite losing some of her independence in her final year due to illness, Shirley was a very loved and respected resident of the nursing home and even made friends with several patrons of a local McDonald's, where she loved to go to lunch weekly with a special hospice volunteer.
Survivors include two brothers, Robert A. (Lillian); and Ronald J. (Ginny); two step-sons, Paul (Kathy) and Chuck (Connie); five grandchildren; and many close friends.
Interment will be held at the Abraham Lincoln National Veteran's Cemetery in Joliette, IL, with Military Honors, at 1:00 p.m. Friday, May 4, 2012.
Wenatchee World - Sunday, April 29, 2012
Shirley was born on November 8, 1923, in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Arthur L. Nelson and Sarah Helen (Hickin) Nelson.
She cared deeply about her country and joined the United States Coast Guard and served as a Coast Guard SPAR (women's active duty corps) in 1943, leaving the service in 1946. She was proud of her time as a SPAR for the rest of her life.
Subsequently, she moved to California and was an Executive Secretary for the Southern California Edison Company for 25 years.
It was in California that she met Donald A. Strawn, whom she married in 1965.
They moved to East Wenatchee in 1972, and later to Wenatchee and attended the First Presbyterian Church of Wenatchee, where Don served as Director of Christian Education and later as Calling Pastor from March 1, 1973, to 1980.
Don passed away in 1996, and Shirley moved back to California in 1999, and then to Williamstown, KY in early 2009, to be close to lifelong friend and former East Wenatchee resident, Doug Thoroughman and his wife, Gwen, and family.
Shirley lived an independent and Christ-filled life and was loved by the many friends she made across the country, including her last three years in Williamstown.
She kept abreast of political events, read voraciously, and was always well-informed.
Despite losing some of her independence in her final year due to illness, Shirley was a very loved and respected resident of the nursing home and even made friends with several patrons of a local McDonald's, where she loved to go to lunch weekly with a special hospice volunteer.
Survivors include two brothers, Robert A. (Lillian); and Ronald J. (Ginny); two step-sons, Paul (Kathy) and Chuck (Connie); five grandchildren; and many close friends.
Interment will be held at the Abraham Lincoln National Veteran's Cemetery in Joliette, IL, with Military Honors, at 1:00 p.m. Friday, May 4, 2012.
Wenatchee World - Sunday, April 29, 2012
Inscription
Y1
US COAST GUARD
WORLD WAR II
PROUD VETERAN
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
