Shirley W. Dewire

Shirley Jean Woodman Dewire died on March 2, 2025, at age 89. She is survived by her loving husband, Norman E. “Ned” Dewire, married in 1957, and by two daughters Cathy (Bill) Gibson, Kettering, Ohio, and Deborah (Peter) Bolmida, Centerville (Dayton) Ohio; cherished Nana to grandchildren Matthew Dewire (Luciana), Rebeka Bolmida (Gus), and Rachael Watchorn (Cory), great-grandsons Benjamin Adams, Liam Dewire, and great-granddaughter Emily Rae Adams; sister-in-law Janet (Bill) Pfeiffer; nieces Jeanne Elam, Lorri (Greg) Stepp, nephew Bill (Colleen) Pfeiffer. She was born on June 19, 1935, in Catawba, Ohio, to Pern and Emily Davisson Woodman. She was preceded in death by her father, Pern; her mother, Emily; and sister (and brother-in-law) Marilyn Woodman Holleron and Tom Holleron. Shirley was a mother, teacher, and involved in community and church activities. A 1953 graduate of Northeastern High School, Springfield, Ohio, she then graduated from Ohio University (B.S. Ed) in 1957 and did graduate work at Wayne State University (Detroit, MI) and Montclair State University (Montclair, NJ). Shirley and Ned started United Methodist ministry on the Jacksonville Circuit (Athens Co.), 1957-1958; then the Charlton City United Methodist Church (Charlton, MA), 1958-1962; and Central United Methodist Church, Detroit, MI 1962-1967. During her first year of marriage, she taught full time in the Glouster School District (Athens County, Ohio). While in Montclair, NJ, she was involved in the Essex County YWCA, did volunteer work for the World YWCA, was engaged in community activities, including being a Deacon in the Central Presbyterian Church, and taught in Head Start program in Newark, NJ, schools. While in Montclair, she began her lifelong entertainment of people from around the world. She and Ned traveled to more than 50 nations, mostly for church work. She taught at United Theological Seminary in Dayton. After moving to Columbus area, she became active in Church World Service (including State Board) and served fifteen years as trustee of United Methodist Children’s Home, twelve years a member of the West Ohio Board of Ordained Ministry, and member of local chapter of PEO as well as state board. A lot of social life revolved around the Methodist Theological School in Ohio for twenty years. Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 15 at Friendship Village Dublin, 6000 Riverside Drive, Dublin, Ohio. Inurnment will be later at David’s Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions, in her name, to the Scholarship Fund at Friendship Village of Dublin or to the Shirley and Ned Dewire Endowed Scholarship in the Patton College at Ohio University (OU Foundation, PO Box 869, Athens, OH 45701).