Shirley A. Williams, age 88, passed away on July 6, 2017 at the Peabody Retirement Community in North Manchester in the care of the wonderful staff of Peabody’s Memory Support Unit.
Shirley was born on July 7, 1928 in Goshen, Indiana to H. Donald and Jeannette (Kostanzer) Crisler. Shirley grew up in her family home on Spencer Avenue in Marion, Indiana. She attended DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana where she was an active member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. After graduating Shirley worked for American Airlines as a flight attendant based out of Dallas, Texas and then as the Teen Program Director for the Marion YWCA.
Shirley married Malcolm J. Williams on March 9, 1952. Malcolm and Shirley lived in Swayzee, Indiana. Malcolm and Shirley were active members of Meshingomesia Country Club in Marion. Frequent visitors of Lake Wawasee since the 1940s, Malcolm and Shirley purchased a lake home there in 1980 and retired to it in 1986. Shirley loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandson. She took great pride in the beautiful flowers she grew each summer at the lake.
Shirley was preceded in death by infant son, Christopher, daughter, Leslie, and husband, Malcolm. She is survived by son Doug (Eileen), granddaughters, Ellie (Will) James and Megan Williams, and great-grandson, Malcolm James as well as sisters, Donna (Walter) Forbes, Susan (Frank) Morton and brother, H. Donald “Fritz” (Carolyn) Crisler.
Shirley will be buried in Marion in a private service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana, 50 East 91st Street, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46240; or the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation, 11586 N. State Road 13, Syracuse, IN 46567.
Arrangements entrusted to Raven-Choate Funeral Home, 1202 Kem Road, Marion, Indiana.
Online condolences may be made at www.ravenchoate.com