Shirley S. (Straatsma) Howard, 93, of Spring Valley Estates and Northgate, both Chambersburg and formerly of Baltimore, MD passed away Monday, August 26, 2024 in the Chambersburg Hospital. Born March 9, 1931 in Baltimore, she was the daughter of the late Oense and Ruth (Elgert) Straatsma.
Following graduation from Eastern High School, Baltimore, she was employed as secretary at Moore Business Forms, and later, served in the Development Office of Johns Hopkins University. After moving to Chambersburg in September 1966 and settling into her new home, she was employed by Wilson College as Faculty Secretary and shortly thereafter was promoted to Secretary to the President. She later elected to move to T.B. Woods & Son as secretary to C.O. Wood, Sr. and Charles O. Wood III. Upon the sale of T.B. Woods, she served as Executive Secretary for Mr. & Mrs. C.O. Wood III in Wood Holdings, Inc. She continued to operate as local representative for the Wood Foundation of Chambersburg, until 2003 when she retired.
After retiring, she served two terms as Treasurer of AARP Chapter 2840 and Treasurer of the Chambersburg Toy Mission until it ceased operations in 2007. She was a Charter member of Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County and served 4 terms as a member of the Board of Directors. Shirley was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Chambersburg.
Shirley and her late husband, Donald G. Howard, were married on April 8, 1950 in Baltimore. Don passed away December 29, 2017.
She is survived by a son, Gary G. Howard and wife Jo-Ann (Turner) Howard of Mechanicsburg, PA, two grandchildren Andrea Dormer (John) and Christopher Howard (Amanda) and five great-grandchildren, Anna and Ethan Dormer and Brooklyn, Colton, and Turner Howard. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Wayne Philip Howard.
A memorial service will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, September 14, 2024 in the Chapel of the Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home, 333 Falling Spring Road, Chambersburg, PA 17202. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service Saturday morning in the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County, 1502 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg, PA 17202.
