Shirley A. Wensel

Shirley A. Wensel, 83, of Meadville died Thursday, November 4, 2010 at Select Specialty Hospital, Erie.

She was born in Meadville March 15, 1927 a daughter of William L. and Hazel Patterson Boehm.  She married Robert C. Wensel May 29, 1948 and he preceded her in death October 13, 1992.

She served on the Ration Board during World War II.  She worked in her father's barbershop and her mother's gift shop in her teens.  Her first job was working as clerk for Carpenter Electric.  Her main life's work was secretary for over forty years for the First Baptist Church of Meadville.  After she retired, she worked as a secretary for the Crawford County Adult Learning Center run by the Crawford Central School District and Saegertown United Methodist Church.  She then came out of retirement to work as an interim secretary again at the First Baptist Church, finally retiring in 2008 at the age of 81.  She also was a co-owner and bookkeeper with her deceased husband Robert C. Wensel of Paradise Trailer Park and Bob's Cleaning Service.

She devoted her life in service to the Lord not only through her activities at First Baptist Church, where she created monthly church displays, arranged flowers, taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, Youth-JET Cadet Leader, missions treasurer, FIC class member and KJU class member and yearbook editor, but also through her involvement in other Christian organizations, including: French Creek Baptist Women's Ministries, American Baptist Women (Board of Directors, Devotions Chairperson, Yearbook Editor), treasurer of the French Creek Baptist Association, Conference Chairperson of the Green Lake Conference Center, Director of Friendly Town - Crawford County, President, Secretary, Chairperson and Calendar Editor of LOVE Gift Inc., treasurer of the Northwest Pennsylvania Education and treasurer of Camp Judson of Northwest Pennsylvania Baptist Assemblies.

She was a graduate of Meadville High School.  She enjoyed collecting angels, sewing and doing crafts in her spare time.  She also enjoyed staying current, traveling across the United State and Canada and was an avid user of numerous computer programs.  She was a loving and giving mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

Survivors, include: two daughters, Susan Elaine Hamilton and her husband Darwin of Meadville and Cheryl Lynn Krider and her husband Doug of Conneaut Lake; five grandchildren, Jonathan Krider, Jennifer Krider, Sabrina McCall and her husband Leon, David Hamilton and Devin Hamilton and his wife Kristen and six great grandchildren, Stephanie Shaw, Sammantha McCall, Morgan McCall, Alexis Hamilton, Jasmine Hamilton and Kaitlyn Hamilton

In addition to her  husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Vivian Peters.

Calling hours will be Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, Inc., 581 Chestnut Street, Meadville.

The funeral service will be Monday at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church, 353 Chestnut Street, Meadville with Rev. Gerald Walton, Pastor, officiating.

Interment will be in  Roselawn Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, 353 Chestnut Street, Meadville, PA 16335 or to Hospice of Crawford County, In Memory of Robert C. Wensel, 464 Pine Street, Meadville, PA 16335.