Shirley Eileen (Martin) Shimp, 74, of Lancaster, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 4, 2010 at the Essa Flory Hospice Center of Lancaster County. Born in Ephrata, PA, she was the daughter of the late Lee and Miriam (Rettew) Martin. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard D. Shimp.
Eileen graduated from Ephrata High School in 1954. She returned to college while raising her four children and graduated from Millersville University in 1982 with her Masters Degree in Psychology. Over her thirty years as a counselor and psychologist, Eileen worked at the Lancaster Guidance Center, Family Services and Philhaven Behavioral Services. Eileen also provided counseling and therapy through her own private practice for a number of years. Eileen and her family were especially proud of her standing as a Master Gardener through the Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lancaster. Most recently, she was employed by the PA Dutch Visitors Bureau. Eileen loved gardening, reading, traveling, playing Scrabble, spending time with her family and being involved with many organizations over the years.
She will be lovingly missed by her four children, Julie Seachrist (wife of Barry) of Elizabethtown, PA; Mitchell Shimp (husband of Barbara) of Harrisburg, PA; Tedd Shimp (husband of Lisa) of Dayton, OH; and Aimee Tyson (wife of Paul) of Lancaster, PA. Surviving in addition to her children are her grandchildren: Erin Thomas, Jenna Zahm (wife of Adam) and Adam Thomas; Allison and Matthew Shimp and Jennifer Hudson; great grandson, Ethan Zahm, and her sister, Nancy Harley (wife of Joe) of Fayetteville, PA. She was preceded in death by her brother, Lee Martin. She will be dearly missed by her companion, Ed Rainsford.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Eileen’s Life Celebration Memorial Service at St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, 2453 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, PA, on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.