Shoup, Mary Ellen (1920-2006)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2006 May 22 p. 9

Birth date: 1920 Aug 13

text of obituary:

MARY ELLEN SHOUP

Mary Ellen Shoup, 85, of Hemet, Calif., died April 24, 2006, after an unexpected brief illness. She was born Aug. 13, 1920, to Harry and Lottie Shoup in Youngstown, Ohio.

She grew up in southern California and attended Goshen (Ind.) College in 1939-40. She served under Mennonite Central Committee as director of orphanages in Nancy and Belfort, France, for 15 years.

Returning to the United States she worked in the office of the Attorney for the City of Los Angeles. She also returned to college at Pepperdine to become a teacher and graduated magna cum laude. While teaching in Los Angeles, she still had the calling to do more, and under Mennonite Board of Missions served seven years in Algeria, where she taught English and earned a master’s degree in English.

She returned to Hemet and taught special education classes in Hemet High School. After retiring she continued as a private tutor and participated in the tutorial program of First Presbyterian Church. She faithfully prepared and served dinners for Valley Restart, supported Habitat for Humanity and helped fulfill the wishes and dreams of children throughout the world, always the champion for people who were ill or in need.

Survivors include a nephew, Dennis Shoup and his wife, Dee, of Washington; two nieces, Robin Reesor Lowe and her husband, Mel, of Hemet, and Luella Miller of Cheyenne, Wyo.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Elma Reesor; and a brother, Robert Shoup.

Memorial services were held at First Presbyterian Church of Hemet and at the Meetinghouse in Greencroft Health Care, Goshen, Ind.