Obituary of Shirley Mae Oliphant

This is an account of the life of my dear mother Shirley Mae Oliphant who passed away October 4, 2011 at Cottage Hospital with family by her side. She was born September 10, 1929 in Wilmington, DE to Alton Addison Oliphant and Vera Star (Glasco) Oliphant. Mom graduated from William Penn High School in New Castle, DE and put herself through the National School of Nursing in Philadelphia, PA. She worked at Brandywine Sanitarium in Wilmington and Stetson General Hospital in Philadelphia where she also attended Temple University. In 1949 Mom enlisted in the Women's Army Corps and served as a doctor's assistant in the Military District of Washington, D.C. In 1950 she met and married my dad, Sgt. First Class Robert Fay Alsworth, Sr.; they remained married until 1975. Mom was a veteran of the Korean War who served in Okinawa with the WAC Detachment in the Ryukus Command. In 1954 Mom became the first former WAC to graduate under the G.I. Bill of Rights from Goldey-Beacom College in Wilmington, DE. She received the degree of Associate in Science with honors. While working for the Dean of the School of Education at the University of Delaware, she became Secretary of the Year 1958. This honor was one of her most cherished. Mom had an eventful 30+ year career as an executive secretary and senior stenographer in the fields of education and government. She retired with 20 years service to the State of California. Her passion for learning stayed with her throughout her life and she studied at the college level until 2009. She was a patriot and an advocate for animals, and enjoyed gardening - especially tending to her roses, nature, classic movies, music, singing and dancing. On the afternoon of October 4th my mom, my best friend, my sweetest angel flew away. I never could have prepared for our time to be over and nothing can replace what we shared. I miss everything about her beautiful being, her wit, her smile, her voice, her laugh, her hugs and kisses, her courage, her encouragement, her explicit viewpoints on world events, our daily chats ... all sweet memories now. She was a brilliant shining star who taught and gave so much. In all things beautiful I see her. Mom was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather Albert J. Short, sister Jeannette Estelle Williams, and beloved aunts and uncles. She leaves behind her son Robert Fay Alsworth, Jr. of Sacramento, CA, daughter Barbara Jean Alsworth Fabian and son-in-law Shawn Fabian of Santa Barbara, CA, and many nieces and nephews. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Humane Society of the United States or Veterans of Foreign Wars. A celebration of Mom's life will be held in Santa Barbara in 2012.