Shenk, Doris Sell (1921-2004)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2004 Nov 1 p. 12

Birth date: 1921 Feb 23

text of obituary:

DORIS S. SHENK

Doris S. Shenk, 83, of Goshen, Ind., died Oct. 13, 2004, at Greencroft Healthcare after suffering from Alzheimer's disease for seven years. She was born Feb. 23, 1921, to Clarence and Elizabeth (Alderfer) Sell in Philadelphia, Pa.

She married Stanley C. Shenk on June 20, 1942, at Souderton (Pa.) Mennonite Church.

She was baptized at Souderton Mennonite Church. She was a 1938 graduate of Souderton High School, a 1986 graduate of Goshen College and obtained a teaching degree at Eastern Mennonite College, Harrisonburg, Va.

She taught school in several settings in the 1940s. From 1958 to 1965 she taught at Franconia Mennonite School, now Penn View Christian School, in Souderton. From 1965 to 1975, she was administrative assistant to the dean of Goshen College. From 1949 to 1957, she was a homemaker, serving as a pastor's wife at South Union Mennonite Church, West Liberty, Ohio.

She was a member of Clinton Frame Mennonite Church in Goshen and the Mennonite Church's Women's Missionary and Service Commission. She served as an instructor of Keystone Bible Institutes and, with her husband, co-directed 10 tours to the Holy Land from the 1970s to the 1990s.

She enjoyed making family scrapbooks, reading church periodicals, playing Scrabble, singing and traveling. She was known for her organizational ability, for her children's stories while in ministry with her husband, and her deep love for family and church.

Survivors include her husband, Stanley; four children, Dave and his wife, Shirley, of Elkhart, Dan and his wife, Vera, of Goshen, Rhoda Keener and her husband, Bob, of Shippensburg, Pa., and Phil and his wife, Alice, of Bookhnog, Dagestan, Russia; 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Blanche Sell; and a brother, Clarence Sell Jr.

A memorial service was held at Clinton Frame Mennonite Church. A family graveside service was held at Violett Cemetery in Goshen.