Shirley M. Gibbs

Shirley M. Gibbs, 86, of East Liverpool, passed away Sunday, December 26, 2021 at Valley Hospice in Steubenville, following a lengthy illness.

Shirley was born in East Liverpool  on August 7, 1935, the daughter of the late William Roach and Hazel Allen Roach Silverthorn.  She was a 1953 graduate of East Liverpool High School  and lived in the area her entire life.  Shirley married Howard Gibbs on June 15, 1957 and spent 55 years with him until his death on October 22, 2012.  Shirley was employed for seven years as a bookkeeper for Potters Bank.  After leaving the bank, Shirley spent 13 years as a secretary for East Liverpool Schools until her retirement in 1990.

Shirley was a member of the East Liverpool High School Alumni Association, Class of 1953 Reunion Committee and was an election poll worker for the Board of Elections.  

Left behind to cherish her memory are: two sons, Gary E. (Cindy) Gibbs, of Johnson City, TN, and Scott A. Gibbs, of Wellsville, OH; her daughter, Cindy M. (Ron) Woodyard, of Galloway, OH; step daughter, Elizabeth A. (Wilbert) Bonnick, of Kissimmee, FL.  She is also survived by her four grandchildren: Shanna Gibbs, Taylor Woodyard, Morgan Woodyard, and Zachary Gibbs; step-granddaughters, Bobbi Jo (Mike) DeSpain, and Trish M (Rich) Neal.   Shirley also leaves behind 6 great-grandsons, her sister, Verna Thorne,and sister-in-law, Ava Roach.

Along with her parents and husband, Shirley was preceded in death by: her daughter-in-law, Mickey Gibbs; and four siblings: Richard Roach, Robert Roach, Eileen Purinton, and Hazel Flara.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 30, 2021 from 11AM-1PM  at Care Funeral & Cremation Specialists- Martin Chapel in Calcutta.  The funeral service will follow at 1PM with Pastor Stephen Knisely of the First United Methodist Church of East Liverpool officiating.  Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery.

The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to Valley Hospice for the exceptional care they took of Shirley during her time with them.  Their kindness and compassion will forever be remembered.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like memorial donations to be made in Shirley’s name to: Valley Hospice 10686 State Route 150, Rayland, OH  43943.

To read this obituary, leave condolences to the family, and sign the guestbook, please visit carechapel.com