Shirley Taylor Deal - Obituary

hirley Taylor Deal, age 94, beloved child of God, ended her journey on earth and began her new life in the presence of Jesus Christ on Thursday, July 9, 2020. She was born October 14, 1925 to Pauline Dennison Taylor and Reginald C. Taylor at Columbia Hospital for Women in Washington, DC. Shirley died of multiple mini strokes in the Healthcare unit of Asbury’s Continuous Care Facility where she resided with her husband, Kenneth Deal in the Independent Living section of Asbury in Solomon’s, Maryland since 2013. Shirley’s parents and only sister, Beverly Taylor, preceded her in death. Shirley and Ken have three children, three grandchildren and four--great grandchildren. Daughter Linda Lee (Pedro) Stillman, Dewey, AZ, son Larry Kenneth (Virgina) Deal, White Plains, MD and daughter Vikki Kay (Mike) Murphy, Palmdale, CA. Grandchildren Bryan Kenneth (Angela) Deal, White Plains, MD, Wendy Michelle (James) Crampton, LaPlata, MD and Bernt Rennie Powell, Canyon Country, CA. Great Grandchildren Jacob Kenneth Deal (Eagle Scout), Taylor Ann Deal, Dylan James Crampton and Wyatt Harrison Crampton. Shirley graduated from Oxon Hill High School on June 13, 1942 as the valedictorian and began working as a secretary in the Editorial Section at the Adjutant General’s School, Fort Washington, MD. In August 1944 Shirley moved with the school to Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. In May 1945 she moved with the school to Fort Lee, Petersburg, Virginia. When the school moved again to Fort Oglethorpe, GA Shirley transferred to the Civilian Personnel Section of the Continental Air Force Headquarters, Bolling Air Base, DC which was renamed as the Strategic Air Command (SAC). She moved with SAC to Andrews Air Force Base in 1946 where she met Ken. When SAC moved to Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, NE, she moved with the Command in January 1949. Shirley married Ken at the Base Chapel at Offutt AFB, December 2, 1949. They celebrated their 70th anniversary with 125 family and friends in the River View Dining Room at Asbury’s Retirement Facility in Solomons, MD in 2019. As an Air Force wife, Shirley followed Ken to Clark Air Base, Philippines; Larson AFB, Moses Lake, WA; McChord AFB. Tacoma, WA; then back to Andrews AFB, MD; Kadena AFB, Okinawa; Hq Accounting & Finance Office, Denver, CO; Ramstein AFB and Wiesbaden AB, Germany; and finally to Hq Data Systems Design Center, Washington, DC where Ken retired from the Air Force on September 1, 1970. Linda and Larry were born in Tacoma, WA and Vikki was born in Landstuhl, Germany. Shirley was a member of the Methodist church, Providence-Fort Washington, Friendly, MD from birth to death with several absences while following Ken all over the world and again in retirement at Grand Junction, CO from 1997-2013. She served in every position, including over thirty years in the United Methodist Women. Shirley was an active member in numerous community organizations. As president of the Oxon Hill Friendly Lions Club, she was awarded lifetime membership and the Melvin Jones Award, which is the Lions Clubs International’s highest award. She also held Officer Positions in the Unity 112 Order of the Eastern Star in Camp Springs, MD and also in Germany. Shirley held numerous local and state positions over forty years with the Auxiliary of the Gideon’s International and Christian Business Men and Women’s Committee. Shirley was Ken’s prayer partner when he did Gideon Reports in 114 different churches, many of them multiple times, as they attended International Conventions in five states. Shirley loved to travel and visited all 50 states and 7 foreign countries. Shirley will be buried in the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA later. Life Celebration Service will be mid-October in her church from birth, Providence – Fort Washington United Methodist at 10610 Old Fort Road, Friendly, MD. 20744 A donation may be made to Calvert County Gideons, PO Box 1530, Prince Frederick, MD 20648. A $5.00 check payable to “Gideons” will authorize the placement of one Bible in memory of Shirley. Or a donation can be made to United Methodist Women, Providence – Fort Washington UMC, 10610 Old Fort Rd, Ft Wash, MD 20744.