Shirley Ann Schultz

Shirley Ann Hunter Schultz, passed away January 4, 2026, in Sherwood, Oregon - shortly after celebrating their 66th Wedding Anniversary with her husband, Karl Schultz.

She was born on February 20, 1936, in Lancaster, OH. Her parents were Dorothy Louisa Solt and John Dudley Hunter.

Shirley lived in Lancaster, OH graduating from Lancaster High School in 1954 and Miami University, Oxford, OH where she graduated in 1958 with a BS in Art Education. She was President of the Methodist Wesley Foundation and President of the campus United Student Christian Council. During the summer of 1956 she served as Director of Music at Many Glacier National Park, MT under the direction of the National Council of Churches.

After a short time working at the Ohio State University Library in Columbus, OH as an Assistant Librarian, Shirley moved to West Lafayette, IN in January 1959, to take a position as Assistant

Director of the Wesley Foundation at Purdue University. She also worked a year teaching art to grades 1st through 12th at three rural Indiana schools.

In early 1959 Shirley met her future husband, Karl Schultz. They were married in Canal Winchester, OH at the Methodist Church on December 27, 1959. While Karl completed his education of a BS in Technology at Western Michigan University, she worked at the Kalamazoo Public Library.

Their daughter, Linda Ann, was born in 1961 in Kalamazoo before they moved to Cincinnati, OH for Karl’s first job as a Manufacturing Engineer. Their son John David was born in Cincinnati in 1964. Their son, Gary Michael, was born in Royal Oak, MI in 1967.

Their family lived in Ohio, Michigan, and Connecticut. Karl and Shirley then lived in Indiana and Illinois. They moved to Oregon as Karl’s career developed and where he later retired.

During their family’s early years Karl was able to travel with everyone to Europe twice on business trips. One trip highlight in 1976 was to drive through the East Germany Wall then through the East Berlin Wall for a long weekend in West Berlin. They stayed right beside the Berlin Wall with guards in the guard towers. These trips included visiting other European countries.

Shirley was devoted to serving her community as a volunteer. After a multi-church women’s group studying hunger in America in the 1970’s she taught low income women on how to cook nutritional foods at the Presbyterian Church in Niles, MI. Then in Ft. Wayne, IN she made clothes and quilts for Project Mercy (a mission in Ethiopia). Later she co-sponsored a Habitat for Humanity organization and built several homes, along with Karl, in Mt. Vernon, IL. She was on the Board of Directors of the Sherwood, OR Historical Society, led the move and restoration of the Smock House, and the renovation of the Morback House into the Heritage Center. Shirley then created thousands of quilts donated to needy children for Project Linus, along with other charitable quilt groups, for 24 years in Oregon.

Shirley is survived by her husband, Karl, and their children; Linda Barney-Ridgway, David (wife Paula Green), and Gary. There are four wonderful grandchildren; Gary’s daughters Sigourney & Nikki Schultz, and David’s son Oliver & daughter Delaney Schultz. She is survived by sister Mary Hunter. Also, her nephew Kirby Lewis (wife Janelle and daughters Alex, Evelyn and Veronica).

Shirley was predeceased by sisters Jane Elder and Donna Turner, and brother Jack Hunter. Shirley was a member of the Portland First United Methodist Church.

A private family graveside service was held January 17, 2026, at the Gibbs Cemetery, a historic pioneer cemetery in Sherwood, OR.

In lieu of flowers, please give a contribution to a charity of your choice or to Project Linus or to Habitat for Humanity.