Shirley Whitman
6 Post Condolences
o 85
o Born: March 29, 1931, in Beebe Michigan.
o Passed: March 22, 2017, at Masonic Pathways in Alma, Michigan.
Shirley grew up in a farming family in Newark Township of rural Ithaca. She attended Ithaca High School and was salutatorian and DAR of the class of 1949. After high school, she attended Central Normal College, receiving a teaching degree. Shirley returned to Ithaca and taught 2 years in a one-room school house before marriage.
On May 24, 1953, Shirley married James R. Whitman. Shirley was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker. During the early years of their marriage, she and Jim lived in Massachusetts, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, finally following his career back to Alma, Michigan. Shirley supported Jim’s entrepreneurial spirit through two family businesses: Whitman Industries and the Downtown Bakery, both in Ithaca. After Jim’s passing in 1987, Shirley continued to operate the bakery until her retirement.
Shirley’s love was music. As a toddler she lost part of her index finger in an accident. She was encouraged by her parents to learn to play the accordion and the piano, so she would use that hand normally. She played the piano throughout her life, but upon receiving a double keyboard Lowery from Jim, she began to play the organ. Music was a significant part of Shirley’s life that brought joy to her family, a joy of music she passed to her daughters.
Shirley took up many other interests and hobbies through the years: social clubs, sewing, quilting, and more. After moving to Alma, Shirley joined Beta Sigma Phi and enjoyed the friendship of her “sisters” for many years. However, when she began to paint, Shirley demonstrated an artistic flair and the ability to capture beauty with a brush. Whether it was painting a landscape, appreciating a simple rose blooming, collecting an odd shaped rock that could be turned into a masterpiece, or watching a light breeze bending the branches of the trees, Shirley loved the beauty of nature in art, and the true art of nature in God’s world.
Shirley is survived by: daughters: Kathleen (George) Francis, Janet (Willard) Pool, and Mary Jo (Ron) Vibbert; grandsons: Jared Vibbert and Sean Francis.
Shirley has joined many loved ones in heaven: husband, Jim Whitman and his parents, Glen and Jessie Whitman; her parents, Don and Catherine Root; brothers, Richard Root, Thomas Root, and Dennis Root.
Visitation for Shirley will be at Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca, Friday, March 24, 5:00-8:00 pm. A Memorial Service will be held at Masonic Pathways, Saturday, March 25, 4:00pm.
Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Michigan Chapter, 25200 Telegraph Road, Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48033-7443.
Reader Comments (6)
Always a smile and kind word, and taught me a lot about baking.
Hugs to Janet, Kathy and Mary Jo, and the family's.