Shirley (Smith) Wisner

Shirley Ann (Smith) Wisner, 77, of Walkersville, Maryland, went to be with the Lord on Friday, December 9, 2016 surrounded by her family. She was the wife and partner of Kenneth E. Wisner (Retired Frederick County Extension Agent, Dairy Science) for nearly sixty years.

Born on July 4, 1939, in Libertytown, Maryland, she was the daughter of the late Clark and Edna Smith. Shirley was raised and loved as a daughter by Ruby and C. Norman Harbaugh, after her mother’s passing, at a young age.

Shirley graduated from Walkersville High School, Class of 1957. She was very active with her class and was the yearbook editor. She continued her education at Frederick Community College and graduated with honors from the University of Maryland at College Park with a Bachelor of Science in elementary education in 1971. Shirley taught second grade for seven years at Waverly Elementary School. She continued to maintain friendships with both students and faculty and took great pride in the accomplishments of her students, many of whom still remember her fondly today.

Subsequent to teaching she co-owned and operated Glade-Link Farms with her husband Ken. She was the familiar voice on our answering machine. Many remember dialing the number and hearing "Thank you for calling Glade-Link" on the other end of the line. She loved working at the farm and at the local farmer’s markets. She liked telling people about the produce we had to sell and loved making new friends and seeing old ones.

She always lived life to the fullest and by a motto her Aunt Ruby taught her to live by, "you can’t go when you’re gone." She loved to travel, go to the theater, host chicken foot parties, cook holiday meals, and watch Maryland Terps basketball. But most of all she cherished her time with her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild.

She is survived by her husband, Kenneth; daughter, Gwen Whitmore and husband, Ron; son, Jeff Wisner and wife, Theresa; granddaughter, Ashley Vascik and husband, Scott; grandson, Kenny Whitmore and wife, Stephanie; granddaughter, Rebecca Wisner and boyfriend, Adam Zimmerman; and great-grandchild, Jackson Whitmore. She is also survived by her step-sister, Joann Pennington, numerous sister and brothers-in-law; and cousins, as well as many friends from the WHS Class of 1957, and her church family at Glade United Church of Christ in Walkersville.

She was proceeded in death by her parents, Clark & Edna Smith; special aunt and uncle, Ruby and C. Norman Harbaugh; grandmother, Fannie Harbaugh; father and mother-in-law, H. Lewis and Gladys Wisner; and brother-in-law, Garnett Wisner.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, December 13 at Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 14 at 11 a.m. at Glade United Church of Christ, 21 Fulton Avenue, Walkersville with the Reverend Phil Curran officiating. Interment will take place at Glade Cemetery with Kenny Whitmore, Scott Vascik, Adam Zimmerman, Josh Hosey, Billy Veith and John Curran serving as pallbearers, and Matt Smith and Andre Cornelis serving as honorary pallbearers.

Donations in Shirley’s honor may be made to Glade United Church of Christ, 21 Fulton Avenue, PO Box 236, Walkersville, MD 21793.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.staufferfuneralhome.com.