Shirley I. (Cole) Schambach

     Shirley Irene Cole Schambach, 98, a lifelong resident of the Linesville area, passed away on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at Juniper Village in Meadville.

     She was born June 8, 1925, the daughter of Janet Havens Cole and Guy Sidney Cole.  Her mother wanted to name her June Rose but her father prevailed, and she was named Shirley for a character in a book he was reading, The Valley of the Giants by Peter B. Kyne.

     She was born and grew up at the family home on what is now Cole Road, near Center Road between Conneautville and Linesville and attended the one room school at Center Road and later Linesville High School.

     On March 2, 1944 Shirley married Harold Edward Schambach. He preceded her in death on March 3, 1989. Their home for many years was outside Linesville on the Irons Turkey Farm. In the mid 1960s they moved to the property of her maternal grandparents, the Haven’s farm on Townline Road.

     She was a farm wife, mother, and grandmother and an excellent self-taught cook. Not many families had Baked Alaska as a weeknight dessert in the 1950s!  She loved roller skating and was frequently seen at Joy Land Roller Rink. She was a reader and valued reading—getting books by mail for her girls. One of her accomplishments was her work in genealogy. Even without a computer or other resources she was able to accumulate much material about her family. Word of mouth and family papers were invaluable in this hobby.

     Survivors include two daughters , Lynda Waring of Dayton, Ohio, and Leila Francisco of Sandy Lake; her grandchildren, Lisa Cates and her husband, Toby, Patricia Sherretts Davis and her husband Kelly, and Guy Sherretts and his wife Kay; six great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and six nieces and nephews, Judith Vukmer, Geraldine Conley, Nancy Lawrence, Carol Gadley, Vincent Bruno and Gloria Verdugo. Shirley was especially close to her granddaughter Patti Davis who attended to her needs for many years and cannot be thanked enough.

     Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, husband Harold, sisters Charlotte Cole Whitney, Ruth Cole Linder, Alice Cole, brother Ralph Cole, grandson Douglas Sherretts and his wife Lisa Buzzard Sherretts and great grandson Austin Sherretts.

     Arrangements have been entrusted to Royal-Coleman Funeral Home, 6028 U.S. Highway 6, Linesville. There will be no viewing.

     Graveside services will be at Linesville Cemetery on June 8, 2024 at 11 am.

     The family is extremely appreciative of the care Shirley received over the last seven and one-half years and suggests donations can be made to the Juniper Village of Meadville Staff Appreciation Fund, mail to Juniper Village 455 Chestnut St, Meadville, Pa 16335. 

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