Shirley Wellman

Shirley Ann Wilson was born on March 18, 1936, the youngest of five children born to Addie (Davis) and Rollie Tyler Wilson. She was a bright child and musically gifted at a young age. She attended Monroe High School and graduated with academic honors. After a brief attendance at the Cincinnati Music Conservatory, Shirley returned home to her parents' house in Middletown, Ohio and got a job at the Central Store. It was to be a life changing decision. It was at the Central Store that she met and fell in love with Robert Leon Wellman. Robert was working there while waiting to be called back to Armco. After a brief courtship and engagement, she married him on June 16, 1962 and became Shirley Ann Wellman. They were married for 50 years, until Robert passed away on September 18, 2012.

Music was always an integral part of Shirley's life. She leaves behind many students of piano who are better for having learned from her. While she never quit teaching all together, she considered her music to be a gift from her God and she spent her whole life using it to praise Him. In addition to her beautiful playing, she possessed a strong, clear alto voice, both of which she used faithfully at her beloved Middletown Nazarene Church. She was also a regular participant in the Christmas contata there and an occasional extra hand with children's programs. Shirley was always available to perform any task for her church that was needed. She felt like she was working for Jesus whenever she worked for her church. But music was her passion.

Besides her music and her faith, Shirley Wellman was driven by love for her whole family. She leaves behind a legacy of laughter and many degrees of love with all of her nieces and nephews, on into the next generation of great-nieces and nephews, whom she loved as well. Her greatest human loves were her own small family. Shirley never worked outside of her home after the birth of her only child, a daughter, Bobbi Shane (Shawn) Gibbs. She dedicated her life to the care of them, continuing on to become a huge part of the lives of her grandchildren.

Shirley Wellman slipped away quietly, in her sleep, under the care of Hospice, in the early hours of June 19, 2020. She was reunited in death with her parents, Addie and Rollie Tyler Wilson, two big brothers, Henry Clay (Mildred) Wilson and Herald James (Imogene) Wilson, an older sister, Helen Marie (Odele) Pence and her husband of 50 years, Robert Leon Wellman.

Left behind to miss her is one sister, Paulin Ruth (Everett) Cole, her only daughter, Bobbi Shane (Shawn) Gibbs, three grandsons-David Edward Bogard, Adam Tyler Shockley, Devyn Taylor Shockley and one precious great granddaughter, Lilly Anne Shockley.

A short viewing will be held at Breitenbach Anderson Funeral Home Wednesday morning, July 29, at 10:00 am, followed by a short service at 10:30. Reverend Chris Jackson will officiate and do a brief graveside service at Monroe North Cemetery. Anyone who wants to can donate to Hospice anywhere, in her name in lieu of flowers.

**Due to Gov. Mike DeWine’s statewide mask order, we ask that everyone bring and wear a mask when attending the visitation and service. Exceptions to the order: those younger than 10, anyone with a medical condition or disability or communicating with someone with a disability.