Shirley Ann Esbin Price

Shirley Ann Esbin Price went to be with the Lord on September 8, 2023. Shirley was born on November 19, 1933, in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania. In 1951 she graduated from Chichester High School, where she was the May Queen, a cheerleader, and on the women’s basketball team. After high school Shirley studied fashion design at the Spring Garden Institute in Philadelphia. Later, she worked at Sun Oil Company as a lab assistant.

Shirley married George Arthur Price in 1955. They lived in Brookhaven, Delaware, and then purchased a house in Ogden, Pennsylvania. In 1970, Shirley and George moved with their three children to Port Richey, Florida, where they built, owned, and managed the Suncoast KOA campground until the late 1980s.

For many years, Shirley sewed clothes for herself and her two daughters, and sometimes she purchased furniture at auctions and meticulously reupholstered those pieces. Shirley also was an artist, and her family cherishes the oil paintings she created.

Shirley and George stayed in Port Richey and lived on a house on the Pithlachascotee River until 1996, when they moved to Celebration, Florida. They were among the first residents of the new planned town and joined Celebration Community Church, where Shirley remained a member until her death.

About a year after George passed away in 2020, Shirley moved to The Windsor at Celebration. There she made new friends, played bingo, and sang in the Glee Club. At The Windsor it wasn’t unusual to see Shirley in one of the common areas working on a jigsaw puzzle.

Shirley is survived by three children, all of whom live in Florida: Karen Price of Orlando; Kathy Price of Longwood, and George Bradford Price of Altamonte Springs; five grandchildren: Eric Ambrosius (Elektra) of Brookline, Massachusetts; Michael Brett Ambrosius of Longwood; Zoe Price of Longwood; Devin Price of Longwood; Sadie Price of Longwood; one great-grandchild, Athanasios Ambrosius; a brother, Charles Esbin (Carolyn) of Crystal Beach, Maryland; a sister, Carol Dische of Unionville, Pennsylvania; cousin and dear friend Lois Harner of Wilmington, Delaware; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, William Randall Esbin and Marion Peters Esbin, as well as brothers William Esbin, Jr. (Dorothy), and Donald Esbin (Josephine).

The family invites anyone who wishes to honor Shirley’s life to join us on Thursday, September 21, at 1 pm at the Celebration Community Church, 501 Celebration Place, Celebration, Florida.

Shirley donated many years to Alzheimer's research after her youngest brother was diagnosed with the disease. Her family would like to continue her patronage, so donations may be sent to the Alzheimer’s charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.grissomfh.com for the Price family.