Shirley Rathbun Hopper

Shirley Rathbun Hopper GlenvilleShirley (Rathbun) Hopper, 80, of Willow Lane, died February 19, 2012 at Ellis Hospital, following a stroke. She was born Shirley Ruth Morrison in Cheyenne, WY, the daughter of the late Eugene and Dorothy Cole Morrison, and moved to Schenectady in 1959, after spending much of her childhood in Rhode Island. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Forrest Olney Rathbun Jr. in 1965 and a brother, Eugene Morrison. She married Francis J. Hopper in 1977. She was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Schenectady but attended services also at the Scotia United Methodist Church. She worked for many years at Focastle Farms in Burnt Hills. Shirley loved to bowl and loved the people she bowled with for over 40 years. She was generous of her time and talents, coaching the youth league for years. She served on the Board of Directors for the local Women's Bowling Association (SSWBA) after serving many terms as its secretary. Her high game of 289 was many years behind her, but her joy was never measured by the score. Her 25+ trips to the National Tournament allowed her time to travel with her bowling friends. And Shirley loved to travel, from driving a van 12,000 miles over five weeks to Alaska and back with four young children who had lost their father; to countless trips across the country and all over the world. She planned, plotted, and drove many of those trips. Always cheerful, Shirley was known to break into song, yodeling, or sound effects when those around her least expected (including occasionally during their bowling approaches). She made friends easily and kept them forever. Her time not spent with family or friends, she used to plan her next adventure with them. She is survived by her husband of 35 years, Francis; her two sons, David S. Rathbun and his wife, Esther Palmer-Rathbun of Clifton Park and Forrest O. Rathbun III of Ballston Lake; her two daughters, Dr. Linda K. Rathbun and her husband, Dr. Roy Cobean of Falmouth, ME and Lisa S. Rathbun-Read and her husband, David Read of Glenville. Shirley leaves sister, Barbara Moffat and her husband, Ken of Warwick, RI and Naples, FL; her grandchildren, Connor and Sam Cobean, Sarah and Michael Read and Natasha and Malika Rathbun; stepchildren, Francis J. Hopper Jr. of Schenectady, John Hopper and his wife, Wendy of Sackets Harbor, NY and Carol Lee deClercq and her husband, Frank of Ravena. Friends and family are invited to call at the Glenville Funeral Home, 9 Glenridge Rd. on Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 5 to 8 p.m. A memorial service to celebrate Shirley's life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23 at Scotia United Methodist Church, 201 N. Ten Broeck St., Scotia. Memorial donations may be made in Shirley's name to your favorite charity. Online www.glenvillefune ralhome.com