Obituary - Charles William Shirley

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The Rev. Charles W. Shirley
December 19, 1926 – August 9, 2012
WAKE FOREST, N.C. — Rev. Charles William Shirley, 85, of Wake Forest, died peacefully in his home surrounded by his family on Thursday, August 9, 2012.

Charles was born in Johnson City, Tennessee. While growing up there surrounded by beautiful mountains, he gained a lifelong appreciation for nature.

In his youth he felt the call to Christian service, and after a stint in the military near the end of World War II, he began his education for ministry.

While in college he met and married Lois Parsons, who became his loving, lifelong companion of 61 years. Together they planned and prepared for careers in overseas ministry.

Following pastorates in Tennessee and Florida, they were appointed to missionary service. They, and their three young children, arrived in Argentina in 1960 to begin working with Baptist congregations. A fourth child, Beth, was born five years later.

In 1979 the Shirley’s returned from Argentina to the United States, and Charles became the founding chaplain of the Interfaith Airport Chaplaincy at the Atlanta International Airport. He served there until his retirement in 1992.

During his furlough year from Argentina in 1973, Charles did graduate work at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and obtained his Doctor in Ministry, thus establishing ties with the town of Wake Forest, North Carolina. In 2005 Charles and Lois moved to Wake Forest to be near their oldest daughter, Luana McCamy.

After a quarter of a century in bustling Atlanta, Charles enjoyed the greater tranquility of this area during the later years of his life.
In the Chapel at the Atlanta Airport there is a plaque honoring Charles as the first chaplain serving there and sums up his life as “Visionary, Chaplain, Missionary, Servant.” His family expands that listing to include Husband, Father, Friend, Minister.

Charles is survived by his wife, Lois Parsons Shirley; children, Mark Shirley, Luana McCamy & husband Bond, Susan Shirley & partner Virge and Beth Peterson & husband Steve; grandchildren, Nickie VanBuskirk & husband Jay, Rachael McCamy, Morgan Shirley, Christopher Charles Shirley & partner Mel and James Peterson; great-grandchildren, Maya VanBuskirk and Avery McCamy and sister, Norma Garland. He is preceded in death by his parents William Hyatt Shirley and Gladys Eads Shirley; sister, Georgia Gray.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Habitat for Humanity, Smile Train or to Doctors Without Borders USA.

A celebration will be held at 4 o’clock, Saturday afternoon, August 18, 2012 in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home. Friends may visit with the family from 3-4:00 P.M., Saturday afternoon, August 18, 2012 at Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 S. Main St., Wake Forest.