Dates
Shirley Gerharter (Barrows), 98, went to be with Jesus on Mother's Day, May 14, 2023.
Shirley was born to parents Arthur C. Barrows and Helen Ney Barrows on April 24, 1925 in New Britain, Conn. She grew up in New Britain and graduated from New Britain H. S. in 1943. She attended business school and also worked as a secretary at nights during World War II for Corbin while still in high school and after graduating.
She met her future husband Erwin Gerharter at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in New Britain. Erwin was soon drafted and sent to the South Pacific. After his discharged Erwin and Shirley were married on December 1, 1945, at St. Matthew's. They then traveled to Lawrence, Kansas where Erwin entered University of Kansas, graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1949. 3 children were born to them, Susan, Stephen, and Scott. The family lived in Kansas during the 1950's and then moved to Maumee, Ohio, near Toledo in 1960. Shirley held a number of jobs as a secretary. She worked for insurance companies, hotels, architect, engineer, and an accountant. One time she worked as a nanny for a family of 7 children. Shirley was active in her church teaching Sunday School and working in the church office. She was a hard worker, an outstanding typist and an excellent secretary. She enjoyed sewing making clothes for her children and later quilts for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She and Erwin were married 64 years 10 months and 3 days when Erwin passed away in 2010. Shirley lived her last 7 years in San Angelo most of the time with her daughter Susan.
Shirley is preceded in death by her mother and stepfather, Helen and Ludwig Rechenberger; her father, Arthur Barrows; her grandparents, Otto and Anna Ney; her husband, Erwin Gerharter; her son, Stephen Gerharter; and a great grandson, Luke Browning Fuessel.
She is survived by her daughter, Susan Fuessel of San Angelo; her son, Scott Gerharter of Toledo, Ohio; 8 grandchildren,14 great grandchildren, and 6 great, great grandchildren.
Shirley requested that there be no services. Interment will be at Highlands Memory Gardens, Waterville, Ohio on June 1, 2023.