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302-478-7100 Wilmington & Hockessin, DE

Shirlie Gibson

Shirlie (Swanson) Gibson, age 95 of Hockessin DE, formerly of Dunwoody, GA, passed away peacefully on September 27, 2024.

Shirlie was born in Bridgeport, CT to the late Herman Swanson and Gertrude (Ahlberg).  She graduated from Stratford High School (Stratford, CT) in 1947 and graduated from Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing as an R.N. in 1950.

She met her husband, Andrew, in high school and they married on September 11, 1951 on the CBS TV show “Bride and Groom”.  As they moved from state to state following Andy’s career, she gained her nursing certification in five states (CT, PA, WV, TX, GA) over 30 years.  Shirlie’s nursing career included surgery, burn wards, pediatrics, hospital care and general practitioner offices.  She often said that pediatrics was her favorite.  This came in handy with four children and nephews living with the family at various times.

Shirlie enjoyed walking, particularly in the various neighborhoods she lived in and she never slowed her pace on hills.  She was active with bowling, golf, tennis and bridge with friends when she had time.  After years of joining her husband on sailing trips, she learned to swim and enjoyed many laps in the pool when walking long distances became difficult.

She was a loving wife and mother and a devout Methodist that was always active in the local church in each town she lived in.  She kept up reading daily devotions and wanted to be remembered as a woman who loved the Lord for giving her life.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Andrew, her parents and siblings Kermit, Gloria, Robert (Bob) and Clifford.

She is survived by her son Todd (Michele) of Chester, NJ, son Craig (Terry) of Tyler, TX, daughter Gayle (Denise) of Newark, DE and son Paul (Karen) of Palo Alto, CA; granddaughters Wendy (Mike) Byerly and Rayna, grandson Sam and step-grandsons Ben (Hanisha) and Jeremy Kirk; great-grandsons Cody and Lex Byerly and Dylan Kirk; niece Kathy Swanson and nephews Bob (Nancy) Vincent, Robert Todd Swanson, and Marcus Swanson.

Family and friends are invited to attend the funeral service on Monday, October 14 at 2 pm at Chandler Funeral Home, 7230 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE.   Interment at Silverbrook Cemetery will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to The Salvation Army (https://give.salvationarmyusa.org/give/164006/#!/donation/checkout , with email notification to gibeck@comcast.net) or a local Methodist Church in your area.

Funeral Services

Family and friends are invited to attend the funeral service on Monday, October 14 at 2 pm at Chandler Funeral Home, 7230 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE.   Interment at Silverbrook Cemetery will be private.

Condolences

    Marilyn Hyte writes,
    Our condolences to Shirlie's family. She and Andy will be walking together again.
    09/28/2024 07:06 pm
    Cary Franklin and Family lit a candle and writes,
    I knew them both since the 70s, and I worked for Andy for many years. They were a wonderful couple; anyone who knew them, looked up to them. They’re together again now—may they rest in peace.
    09/28/2024 07:33 pm
    Carl and Cathy Wallace writes,
    May the Eternal Light shine on Shirley and blessings of comfort embrace her family and our friend, her son Craig, in this time of loss.
    09/29/2024 08:46 am
    Werner Tschersich writes,
    Our condolences to Shirlies family. We believe and hope that Shirlie and Andy are now reunited. Around 1981 Shirlie and Andy were my host family and my wife Hilde was also warmly welcomed when she visited me. It was so special that neither of us will ever forget it. From this a warm-heated pen pal relationship developed that lasted 44 years. Andy visited us twice in Germany. For us Shirlie and Andy were more than friends, they were our American family. We are very sad about Shirlie, we admired how she lived and everything she achieved in life: She was a particularly great woman!!!!!
    09/29/2024 08:59 am
    Helen Griffith lit a candle and writes,
    I'm so sorry for the loss of a beloved parent. Their love lives on in your heart.
    09/29/2024 02:55 pm
    Bill Spencer writes,
    My condolence to the family. I remember well attending that TV wedding.
    09/30/2024 12:06 pm
    Patricia McLaughlin lit a candle and writes,
    We send our deepest condolences to the Gibson family as they mourn Shirlie’s loss. Her memory lives on in the hearts of all those who knew and loved her.
    09/30/2024 05:41 pm

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