Shirley Smith, Class of 1956

Shirley Smith ’56 died May 29, 2021. Shirley was born on August 14, 1934, to Perry and Helen Smith in Jersey Township, Ohio. Shirley’s mother died just before she turned two, and she was raised by her father and maternal grandmother. After her maternal grandmother died, she was raised by her father’s sister and her husband, Mary and Otto Ginn.

Shirley obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Otterbein University where she was involved in the Tau Epsilon Mu (Talisman) sorority. She taught Communication and was the yearbook advisor at Norwood High School in Cincinnati, OH for 35 years. In addition she worked with the students in plays, musicals and variety shows. She also chaperoned several class trips to Washington, D.C.

Shirley traveled with friends to Ireland and held season tickets to the Cincinnati Reds, Bengals and Pops. She attended the June Bug Jamboree, an Otterbein alumni gathering in Waynesville, OH, and also her 50th class reunion at Otterbein.

Shirley was predeceased by her parents, Perry and Helen Smith, as well as her guardians, Otto and Mary Ginn. She is survived by her cousins: Michael Derringer, PJ Derringer Matteo, Deborah Garza, Lisa Coester, Angela Garza, Danielle LaSota, Tiffany Messerall, David Butler, and Allen Butler.