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.
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