Shenk, Mary Florence (1917-2009)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2009 Aug 10 p. 16

Birth date: 1917

text of obituary:

40-year assistant to deans dies at 92

HARRISONBURG, Va. — Mary Florence Shenk, 92, who served as administrative assistant to five deans of the college and seminary at Eastern Mennonite University over a 40-year period, died July 17 at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community.

Shenk was assistant to academic deans Chester K. Lehman and Ira E. Miller and seminary deans George R. Brunk II, Richard C. Detweiler (interim seminary dean, 1976-77) and George R. Brunk III from 1943 to 1983. In addition, she was associate international student adviser for much of this time.

"Mary Florence Shenk was a dean without the title," said Myron S. Augsburger, EMU president emeritus. "She did the work in a diligent, efficient fashion, adding much character to the academic program in the process."

A native of Elida, Ohio, Shenk grew up in Newport News and moved to Harrisonburg in 1941. She earned a bachelor's degree from EMU in 1959.

Shenk is survived by thee sisters, one brother and many nieces and nephews.