Opal R. Shelley

YORK Opal Regina (Stottlemyer) Shelley, 88, died Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at her residence. She was the wife of John Donald Maynard Shelley, Sr., with whom she observed their 66th wedding anniversary on February 1, 2012. Born, July 15, 1923 in York, she was the daughter of the late Marcellus Cleveland and Katherine (Yinger) Stottlemyer. She graduated from North York High School in 1941, and as a Registered Nurse from The Jefferson Medical College School of Nursing, in Philadelphia, in April 1945. While awaiting her commission in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps (USANC), Opal joined the York Visiting Nurse Association as a Visiting Nurse. Opal received her commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps, on April 10, 1945 and was stationed at Woodrow Wilson General Hospital in Staunton, Va., from May 1945 to March 1946. Opal, upon her discharge from the USANC, resumed her Nursing career and was professionally licensed in PA (1945), in NJ (1953) and in Illinois (1961), as an RN. She retired from Nursing at Morristown Memorial Hospital as Senior Staff Nurse, in 1989. Opal and John lived in State College; Syracuse and Cazenovia, N.Y.; Huntington, W.Va.; Arlington Heights, Ill. and Westfield and Convent Station, N.J. They returned to York in 1990 and in their "retirement", became affiliated with their son John's new business in 1990, as they founded & opened John Shelley's Garden Center & Nursery, Inc, in Felton, in March of 1991. In addition to her husband, Opal is survived by her son, John II; her daughter, Rebecca; and several nieces and nephews. Following cremation, a graveside memorial service will be held in the Victorian Chapel of Mount Rose Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions for Opal Regina Shelley, may be made to The Wellspan VNA Hospice, 540 S. George St., P.O. Box 2404, York, PA 17405-9892. Etzweiler Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 1111 E. Market St., York, is in charge of arrangements. www.etzweiler.com