Shirley Thurmond Arbaugh

Shirley Thurmond Arbaugh, 82, died, March 8, 2010, at Aiken Regional Medical Center. Shirley was born September 19, 1927 in Minneola, FL, to the late Neil and Margie Thurmond. She was a graduate of Alexander Park High School in Portsmouth, VA. She has been a resident of New Ellenton, SC from 1950 until 1999, and in Aiken, SC the last eleven years. She is survived by two daughters - Teresa Arbaugh Gunter White (Tim), Tallahassee, FL, and Kay Arbaugh Kierspe (Tom), Moncks Corner, SC; her four sons - Donald Edwin Arbaugh (Kricket), Ronald Harvey Arbaugh (Beryl), James Neil Arbaugh (Donna), and John Raymond Arbaugh (Lisa), all of Aiken, SC; sixteen grandchildren – Mark and Todd Arbaugh, Bart and Joel Gunter, Rachel Gunter Shapard, Rebecca Gunter Wood, Travis and Brett Arbaugh, Nichole, Addam and Neil Arbaugh, Kirby and Sydney Arbaugh, and Brittany Kierspe Poston, Kristin Kierspe Cordray, and Chase Kierspe; fifteen great grandchildren – Samantha, Mallory, Courtney, Dillon, and Caylin Arbaugh; Claudia, Hannah, and Dorey Gunter, Drew and Kate Shapard, and Brennan and Tucker Wood; Logan Rogers, Nadia Jones, and Ayden Arbaugh; and a sister, Betty Taylor Schopp, Greenwood, SC. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Edwin Harvey Arbaugh. Shirley was a member of Foreman Memorial Baptist Church in New Ellenton, SC, where she served as a Children’s Sunday School teacher and AWANA leader for 40 years. She also served as a secretary for Aiken County District One Schools. Shirley’s entire life is one of ministry and service. She left a rich legacy of Christian beliefs: mentoring young women, transporting children to church – where she helped establish a bus ministry, organizing and preparing meals for widows and widowers, and visiting each member of her Sunday School classes, and visiting the sick. Shirley loved her Lord and Savior, she loved the church, and she loved her family. Her six children are blessed to call her ‘mother’ – she gave herself unselfishly to everyone God placed in her life. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 PM Tuesday, March 9 at Shellhouse - Rivers Funeral Home, 715 East Pine Log Rd., Aiken, SC. A celebration of her life will take place Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 2 PM, at Foreman Memorial Baptist Church with The Rev. W.L. Collins officiating; assisted by Bob Taylor, and Brantley Bryan. Pallbearers will be Bart and Joel Gunter, Mark and Todd Arbaugh, Travis and Brett Arbaugh, Addam and Neil Arbaugh, Kirby Arbaugh and Chase Kierspe. The interment will follow at St. Paul United Methodist Church in New Ellenton, SC. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Foreman Memorial Baptist Church, 207 Smith Ave., New Ellenton, SC 29809. Shirley Arbaugh’s online guest book may be signed at www.shellhouseriversfuneralhome.com. The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Shadow Oaks (6 years) and at Harbor Chase (4 1/2 months) for their loving care. SHELLHOUSE - RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Shirley Thurmond Arbaugh, please visit our flower store.