Shirley Mae Workman 85, a long-time Frankfort resident, passed away on February 20, 2010, in Manassas, VA. She was born on January 1, 1925 in Gibson County, IN, and grew up in Worthington, IN. The daughter of William and Alice Herman, she graduated from Worthington High School in 1942. Following graduation, she moved to Indianapolis where she studied violin with noted Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra violinist and assistant conductor Renato Pacini and worked as a secretary at RCA supporting the war effort. She married Robert C. Workman of Bloomfield, IN, on October 11, 1946, and they moved to Frankfort, IN, in 1948. After her husband passed away on March 7, 1991, she remained in Frankfort until August 2004 when she moved to Annandale, VA, to live with her son and his family.
Throughout her 57 years living in Frankfort, she was actively involved in the community. In her younger years, she helped organize and lead the Clinton County Easter Seals Campaign of the National Society for Crippled Children. She was active in the Clinton County Republican Party, serving as precinct committee woman on numerous occasions. She was also a member of the Women of the Moose and the American Legion Auxiliary. After she retired, she volunteered for many years at Woodside Elementary School and later at Sun Crest Elementary School, assisting third graders with reading and math. She was also a dedicated member of the Grace Baptist Church for 35 years. She worked as a legal secretary, as a court reporter for the Indiana State Industrial Board, and as a freelance court reporter in Frankfort and central Indiana. She worked briefly at Wesley Manor before going to work as a customer service representative at Federal Mogul in 1980. She retired from there in 1987.
Visitation and Services
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, February 25, 2010 at Goodwin Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 12 Noon prior to the service. Burial will follow at Bunnell Cemetery. Pastor Kevin Alber will preside. The family requests that memorial contributions be made in Shirley's name to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org) or the AARP Foundation (www.aarp.org].
Survived by:
She is survived by her son, Randall ‘Boe’ (Wife Carol) Workman and two grandchildren, Stephen R. and Margaret S. ‘Maggie’ Workman all of Annandale, VA.
Preceded by:
She is preceded in death by her son, Gregory Robert Workman in 1974; her husband; one sister, Leah Jane Chambers; and two brothers, Joseph Zachary and Kenneth Zachary.
Boe
I will always remember your mom’s laugh, she really enjoyed all the gatherings at her home.
Take care and remember the memories you have of her and your family.
Jim and Ann Titus
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Facebook Twitter GoogleBoe and Carol,
My heart goes out to you and all your family. May your memories of your mom be sweet and sustaining ones.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleDear Shirley,
I just wanted to take a few minutes to express my appreciation for the influence you have been in my life. As you know, Tom and I did not have the benefit of an Aunt or Uncle; we always regarded yourself, Bob, Fred and Polly as our Aunts and Uncles.
I remember driving up to Frankfort with my Mom and Dad to visit you and Bob. It was always great to play with our cousins and your cooking was out of this world! Do you remember when Judy came to Frankfort for the Junior Miss Pageant? She stayed with you all week long then the entire family descended upon you! You remained unshaken and just welcomed us to your home with that big smile. We also enjoyed the visits with you and your family when you came down to Claude and Zona’s house, do you remember that old Plymouth with the push button gear shift? Ah, those were the days!
You were one of the first “career women” that I ever knew. I thought it was really cool that you got to go to an office every day and hoped that I could do that some day. Who knew that 30 years later, while working at Cummins, I would receive a call from Federal Mogul, one of my suppliers. I was so surprised to hear your voice on the other end of the phone! I really enjoyed our visits and business lunches while we discussed the trials and tribulations of Corporate America!
It was great talking to you on the phone when you moved in with Boe and Carol; I know you enjoyed spending time with them and your beautiful grandchildren in that great house! You were always so proud of Boe, even though we all thought he was going to be a student forever, you knew that he was destined for great things!
Now you have moved on to be with Jesus and our family in heaven; I want to thank you for being the Aunt that I never had and thank you for showing me that women can succeed in business and still have a great home life! Most of all, thank you for the friendship and hospitality that you have shown me throughout my life.
We love you and will miss you.
The “other” Carol Workman (Blankenship)
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Facebook Twitter GoogleI, Mary Kathryn Fiscus, met Shirley when we were freshmen in high school in 1938, and we have been friends since that time. I am from September to January older than Shirley.
She had a good time wherever she went and could make something funny out of every little incident. We sat side by side in all of our classes and would whisper and visit. The history teacher would say, “Shirley Mae, do you have something to say to the class?” which would send us into a spasm of laughter. We remained friends, went to the senior prom with our dates together., went to ballgames together etc. Then I got married. And Shirley and her boy friend would come to our house. Oh the good times we had.
Then she got married to Bob and they visited us, and we visited them. Then, she in later years, moved to Virginia to be closer to Boe and his wife. He brought her to our house a few years ago, and she stayed a week with us. We talked and laughed like a couple of teenagers.
We also talked on the phone often and kept in touch. Shirley Mae Workman was the kind of friend to have – the long lasting kind. I will miss her. God bless Boe and his wife, Carol, and their children. The end of that.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleLet me preface my remarks by saying that at a time like this I wish I could more eloquently express my thoughts about my aunt, Shirley Mae.
When I think of Aunt Shirley Mae, I have to smile. That’s how I will remember her – always laughing. Even when times got tough, health wise, she never lost her jovial outlook on life.
When I was 6 years old I went to stay with Aunt Shirley Mae and Uncle Bob in Frankfort (or Lebanon) – I can’t remember which at that age. I know it was before Greg and Boe were born. It was my first time to stay overnight, away from home. I had such a great time. We all watched TV together – something we didn’t have at home yet. I’ll always remember that little round 10 inch TV set. And the good time I had with my aunt and uncle.
At Christmas, I can remember waiting for my aunt and uncle and the boys to arrive in Worthington, because that’s when the party got started. Aunt Shirley Mae was always dressed up… makeup and hair impeccable. My mom and Aunt Shirley Mae would go to the kitchen and cook and laugh and tell jokes. There was plenty of laughter when my aunt was around.
Aunt Shirley Mae visited Branson, Missouri twice after we moved to the area. She loved coming to Branson. Even though her legs didn’t work as well as she would have liked, she was out there going to the shows and buffets and having a great time with her friends.
We’d meet for breakfast and talk about the old times. She’d have stories about Boe and his family. She was so proud of all of them.
Her favorite story, and I think she always told it whenever I talked to her, was the story of the broken lamp. Greg, Boe, Uncle Bob and I were playing football inside at our house and somehow a lamp got broken.
None of us confessed or pointed a finger at the other guy. She must have known who the guilty party was, but she kept the secret…although she certainly liked to tease me about me about it…even 50 years later.
I choose to remember my aunt as a person who saw the humor in life and helped those who knew her see it as well. She will be missed.
Love,
your nephew, Rod
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Facebook Twitter GoogleBoe, Ted and I would like to express our condolences to you and your family for the loss of your mother. We know that your mother was extremely proud of her family. Shirley was very full of pride and ecstatic when she became a grandmother. One of the things I remember about Shirley was her passion for IU Basketball, especially when they played Purdue. Another, was her joyful and distinct laughter when someone told a joke or something funny happened. As you know, your Mom loved to talk and she and I spent many hours on the phone. After moving back to Texas, Shirley and I continued to talk, and when she moved to Virginia to live with you and your family she seemed to be content. We know from experience, that caring for a loved one can be hard and trying at times, but it showed the love and compassion that you and Carol provided your Mom during her final years.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleHow does one pay appropriate tribute to a woman such as Shirley Workman?
I met Boe in Beck III of Reed Quad at Indiana in 1970. Boe lived right across the hall from me. One of my fondest memories of IU was being included in restaurant dinners with the Workman’s. Don’t all undergrads jump at a chance to get real food away from the institutional fair in the dorms! I was always treated as a member of the family with Shirley and Bob. What gracious, generous and truly great-spirited people!
But of course it didn’t end there. Over the years as I had the opportunity to visit Bloomington, and there were many, I always made it a point to stop off in Frankfort on my way down. Whether I showed up in my Air Force uniform or in blue jeans there was always a big smile and “Hi Tinman” greeting me as Shirley opened her door and her home to me. Of course there was coffee and whatever she could muster prepared for me as we discussed what was happening in my life and what particular case Shirley was working on at the time. I could always count on a warm welcome and a good cup of coffee.
The last time I saw Shirley was almost a year ago. I clearly remember our lunch at IHOP next to her care center. I know her short memory was not up to par but it was clear she remembered Tinman as we reminisced about the old days and the good times we’d had. Her spirit still showed in her ready smile as I told my silly jokes and lame puns. Just before Boe and I ended our visit with Shirley I held her hands and she looked up at me and said my hands were warm and that she may live for quite a few more years. I laughed and said “I don’t think I can stand and hold your hands that long.” She laughed and we hugged our last time. That’s how I want to remember Shirley, her laugh, her hospitality, and her love.
Goodbye Shirley.
Your son,
Tinman
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Facebook Twitter GoogleBoe,
I am very sorry to hear of your mothers passing, hope to see you soon!!
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Facebook Twitter GoogleDear Boe and Carol:
Our thoughts and prayers are with you for the loss of your Mother. We had the opportunity to know Shirley and enjoyed many great times with her, her laughter and kindness will always be remembered. May God bless you and your family. May God bless Shirley’s soul.
Scott, Patty, Brian, and Nick Strain
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Facebook Twitter GoogleBoe, Carol, Stephen and Maggie,
I’m so sorry to hear about Shirley. Just know that I’m thinking of you, and remember all of the wonderful times that you spent together.
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