Obituary of Shirley Stanton

Shirley S. Stanton of State College died peacefully Saturday, September 07, 2013 at the Fairways, State College. Shirley was born May 30, 1924, in West Milton, PA a daughter of the late Leland Smith and Ouida Koch Smith. She spent her youth in New Columbia, PA and attended schools in the Milton School District, graduating in 1942. After high school, Shirley was employed for five years by Piper Aircraft Corporation. During that time she was a pilot responsible for delivering airplanes from the manufacturer in Lock Haven to purchasers in various cities throughout the United States. When Piper downsized, and moved their manufacturing plants elsewhere, Shirley moved to State College and was employed by Penn State in the Student Placement Office. She met her future husband in that office as he was graduating, and he came through her office for multiple interviews with potential employers. They subsequently married in George Washington's Church, in Alexandria, Virginia, on Washington's Birthday in 1952, in the midst of all of the celebrations that were occurring on that day, in that city. Over the ensuing years, she accompanied her husband, in his career path as a Certified Public Accountant, from State College, to Denver, to Seattle, to Denver, and back to State College. During those years she attended classes at Pennsylvania State University, University of Colorado, and University of Washington. During her time in Seattle, she was employed by Boeing Aircraft Corporation as a technical analyst of the flight characteristics of the 747 airplane while that plane was in its early developmental stages. After returning to State College in 1957, she served as Assistant to the Dean of the College of Business at Penn State until her retirement in 1982. She counseled and was the primary advisor to thousands of students during her career. Many of those students came up to her, anywhere in the world that she happened to be, and expressed their gratitude for her assistance to them at a critical time in their educational career. Shirley was a sports enthusiast all of her life. She played golf and tennis regularly; she won the Women's Golf Championship at Centre Hills Country Club, she skied every winter locally, and travelled annually to ski in the mountains in the western United States. In Spring, Summer, and Fall, she enjoyed camping and fishing in the streams in those same mountain areas. She gardened extensively with enthusiasm. Many persons said that they frequently traveled out of their way in order to view her colorful flower garden displays. In retirement, she continued all of those activities, and also included volunteering extensively with YMCA and Penn State Women's Volleyball. Shirley is survived by her husband, Lionel (Lon) Stanton, her brother Dick Smith and his wife Joy of Milton, PA, and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother Jack Smith and his wife Sally, and her sister Maxine Smith Share and her husband Robert. Services for Shirley will be private, at the convenience of the family. Online condolences may be sent to www.kochfuneralhome.com