Eva Shirley Longsworth

November 02, 1938 – October 8, 2026

Eva Shirley Kirkpatrick Longsworth, 87, of Cross Lanes, formerly of Eskdale, passed away on Thursday, October 8, 2026. She was the daughter of the late Bert Kirkpatrick and Sadie Dalton Kirkpatrick Richards of Ohley.

Shirley was a 1956 graduate of East Bank High School. After graduation, she attended the Charleston Memorial Hospital School of X-Ray Technology. She then married David, and his military service took them to Denver, Colorado, where she worked at the University of Colorado as academic supervisor of its X-Ray Technology program. After David’s military career, they returned to West Virginia, where she graduated cum laude from West Virginia State University with a degree in health education. She continued her education at Marshall University, earning her master’s degree plus 45 additional hours in education. Shirley worked as an x-ray technician at several area hospitals while teaching medical assisting at Ben Franklin Career Center where she won several prestigious awards and serving as an adjunct professor at WVSU. Education was very important to her, and she was an avid reader.

To say Shirley was a devoted wife, mother, and animal lover would be an understatement; nothing meant more to her than her family and her animals. She was a member of Ohley First Baptist Church in Eskdale, WV.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters, June Carter, Alberta Cochran, Helen Carroll, and Joyce McPhail.

She is survived by the love of her life, David E. Longsworth. They first met in the second grade and were married for 67 years. She is also survived by her son, Patrick Longsworth (Julie) of Cross Lanes; her daughter, Karen Dillard (Mills) of Winfield; and her grandson, Drew Dillard. Shirley was the very proud Grammy to Drew, who meant the world to her.

A graveside-only service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens, Cross Lanes, with Pastor Chad Estep of Teays Valley Baptist Church officiating. In Lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association. 1248 Greenbrier St. Charleston, WV 25311, Tyler Mountain Funeral Home, Cross Lanes is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.tylermountainfuneralhome.com