Shirley Carolene (Taylor) Votaw

SHIRLEY CAROLENE VOTAW, age 81, of Big Long Lake, died on Sunday, July 24, 2016 at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Mrs. Votaw was born in Cabin Creek, West Virginia on October 12, 1934 to the late Marshall Irving Taylor and Blanche Adelaine (Carnifex) Taylor.  She graduated from East Bank High School in West Virginia in 1952 and attended Santa Monica City College.  She was a veteran of the United States Air Force and served as a teletype operator at the Strategic Air Command Headquarters at Offitt AFB in Omaha, Nebraska.  She served under General Curtis E. LaMay.  She married Daniel Keith Votaw on April 7, 1956 at Trinity Methodist Church in Fort Wayne.  Shirley was a librarian and she established libraries at several grade schools in Fort Wayne.  She was also the data processing librarian at Essex's Wire in Fort Wayne.  Shirley was a charter member of the Women in Military Service of America Memorial.  She was a member of the TRIAD committee working with the LaGrange County Council On Aging and set up the SAFENET program for seniors. She enjoyed volunteering and she volunteered many hours in the emergency room at Parkview Noble Hospital in both Kendallville and Fort Wayne and for the Community Education Nurses.  She was president of the Parkview Noble Hospital Auxillary from 2009-2010.  She was the legislative chairperson for the northeast district of the Indiana Hospital Auxiliary Association.  Shirley belonged to the Noble Knitters and she loved knitting, crocheting, cross stitch, embroidery, scrap booking, making cards, and arts and crafts.  She was an avid reader and she loved living on the lake, feeding the birds, and traveling. 

Survivors include: 
Her husband, Dan Votaw of Big Long Lake.
Daughter, Theresa and Dave Mainous of Fort Myers, Florida.
Daughter, Lynn Votaw of Germantown, Ohio.
Half sister, Betsy and Eric Carlson of Sacramento, California.
She was preceded in death by parents and half sister, Sue Nance.

Visitation will be Thursday from 3:00-7:00 pm at Hite Funeral Home, Kendallville.
Funeral services with military honors will be Friday, July 29, 2016 at 10:00 am at Hite Funeral Home.
Memorial donations may be made to Women In Military Service For America Memorial.
Send a condolence to the family at www.hitefuneralhome.com or find us on Facebook.com
Arrangements entrusted to Hite Funeral Home of Kendallville.

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