Betty Shirk

Betty Jean Davis Shirk, 90, a long time resident of Athens, died Saturday the 10th of July at the Carriage Hill Rehabilitation Center in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Betty Jean Davis was born to Virginia H. and Ross M. Davis in 1920 in Clarksburg, West Virginia, the oldest of four children. Betty graduated in 1936 from high school in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. She received her registered nursing degree through Heiskell Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia. Following her graduation, she traveled to Washington, D.C., where she received surgical nursing training. After returning to work in Morgantown, Betty enlisted in the Army Nursing Corps; she received training as a flight nurse and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1943. During World War II, she was stationed in Florida and was one of 500 brave nurses who traveled back and forth to Europe caring for wounded American soldiers as they were flown home. Following her marriage to a fellow officer and her discharge from the Army, Betty was stationed with her husband at military bases in Puerto Rico, Kansas, Washington D.C., and Virginia. During this time, she continued her nursing and worked as a kindergarten teacher. Betty returned to ATHENS and worked at Sheltering Arms/Ochr(39)Bleness Memorial Hospital. She moved to the Ohio University Health Clinic where she was the nursing supervisor. In 1975 she was asked to help found the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine where she remained until the end of her career and retired as nursing manager. During her long tenure she received Ohio Universitychr(39)s Outstanding Public Service Award. Betty was an accomplished potter, seamstress, and crotchetier. She greatly loved her friends and family and was happiest when spending time with both. Betty is survived by her sister, Virginia Warlick and husband George Warlick of Kingston, Tennessee, her sister, Polly Morris and husband Robert Morris of Jefferson City, Missouri, and her brother Robert Davis and wife Mary Davis, of Houston, Texas. She is also survived by her grandson K. Dean Gossett and wife Tanya Gossett of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and granddaughter Kimberly Klaus and husband Glenn Klaus of Alexandria, Virginia. She was blessed with four great-grandsons, the loves of her life in her later years; Aidan and AJ Gossett and Spencer and Finn Klaus. Additionally she is survived by numerous beloved nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son, Robert Winters Shirk and daughter, Virginia Echo Gossett. Lastly, she is survived by her dog Benji, her constant friend and companion of the last ten years. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lymphoma Research Foundation, 115 Broadway 13th Floor, New York, New York 10006. A memorial service will be held at Hughes-Moquin Funeral Home on Saturday, August 21, 2010, at 11 a.m.. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the memorial; a graveside service will immediately follow at Alexander Cemetery. You may send the family a message of sympathy at www.hughesmoquinfuneralhome.com.