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Mary Florence Shenk of Harrisonburg, Va., died Friday, July 17, 2009, at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community. She passed from time to eternity with Christ without fear. She was born Dec. 22, 1916, in Elida, Ohio, and was the fourth of 10 children of the late Levi J. and Amanda Yoder Shenk. The family moved to Denbigh, Va., when she was a young child.
Mary Florence graduated from Morrison High School in 1934 and from Eastern Mennonite University in 1959. As a teenager she began teaching Sunday School at the Warwick River Mennonite Church, where she grew up. She taught in Bible Schools and Sunday Schools most of her life. Mary moved to Harrisonburg, Va., in 1941. She was an active member of the Park View Mennonite Church and participated in the Mennonite Women's organizations, where she held offices for many years.
She served 40 years as administrative assistant to the deans of the college and seminary at Eastern Mennonite University from 1943-1983 with deans Chester K. Lehman, Ira E. Miller, George R. Brunk II, Richard C. Detweiler and George R. Brunk III. In addition, this included assistance in advising foreign students. Her faithful labors enhanced the productivity of those whom she has served.
After retirement, she was involved in a variety of volunteer assignments. These included working in MCC Ten Thousand Villages ministry in Akron, Pa. and at Harrisonburg Gift and Thrift Shop, where she served on the Board of Directors a number of years. She also reviewed books for Choice Books. Mary Florence loved to travel and was able to visit many points of interest in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Alaska.
Mary Florence was a woman with many gifts, talents and interests. She enjoyed entertaining family and friends. Family was very important to her. She was very diligent in planning family reunions.
Mary Florence is survived by three sisters, Mildred and her husband, Sylvanus Moyer, Miriam and her husband, Daniel Baer, all of Harrisonburg, Martha and her husband, Ernest Godshall, of Newport News, Va.; one brother, John M. Shenk and his wife, Evelyn, of Harrisonburg, Va. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 25, 2009, at Park View Mennonite Church. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Her body has been donated for anatomical study.
Memorial contributions may be made to Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, Compassion Fund, 1501 Virginia Ave., Harrisonburg, VA 22802.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kygers.com.
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