Shirley Beth Vosburg

Shirley Beth (Rottink) Vosburg died in Germantown on January 23 at the age of 79. She was born to Harold Jesse Rottink and June Elizabeth (Nystrom) Rottink on May 29, 1945 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Shirley grew up in Robbinsdale, a suburb of Minneapolis and graduated from Robbinsdale High School. She attended St. Cloud State College, then graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1967. She was awarded the Senior Home Economics prize for the state of Minnesota by the Danforth Foundation. Following the call of President Kennedy, she joined the Peace Corps, teaching science for two years at the Soldier's Home High School in Pokhara, Nepal. She travelled widely in India, southeast Asia and Japan on her way home. Having decided food was important, she enrolled in the University of Michigan School of Public Health. On August 14, 1971, she arrived on campus, first meeting her eventual husband, Dick Vosburg, while moving into her apartment. He happened to live in the same building. Shirley received her Masters in Public Health, Nutrition in May, 1973. She had served internships in Cincinnati and in Eastern Kentucky. She and Dick were married on June 2, 1973, in Minneapolis and shortly thereafter set up housekeeping in Morganfield, Kentucky, where Dick was working. Shirley soon started work for the Green River Consortium, leading a communal eating and socialization program at five counties in western Kentucky. In July 1975 their first son, David, was born. In spring 1976, the family of three moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where Dick had started work at Holiday Inn. Son Alan was born in May 1978. As soon as both boys were in day care, Shirley started work for the University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences (UTCHS), seeing prenatal patients in the basement of the old Gaston Clinic. After a couple of years, she transferred to the Department of Preventive Medicine, doing what she liked the best, guiding participants through clinical trials. Shirley was active in Balmoral Presbyterian Church, teaching Sunday School, serving as an Elder, and leading a summer Children's Day Out Program. Her time in Memphis was interrupted from 1988-1992 when Dick was transferred to Dallas. Living in the suburb of Coppell, she became active in First United Methodist Church of Coppell, serving as Sunday School Superintendent and shepherding the boys through their activities. The family's time in Coppell ended with David graduating as valedictorian, Dick taking a new job in Memphis, Alan attending Christian Brothers High School, and Shirley returning to the UTCHS Department of Preventive Medicine. The family moved to Germantown and Shirley led the diet intervention part of the Women's Health Initiative, Look Ahead, and other studies. As time moved on, Dick and Shirley increased their travels, to several countries in Europe and Asia, as well as throughout the US and the Caribbean. They were even able to return to Pokhara, Nepal, where Shirley had served in the Peace Corps. Shirley retired in 2005. She and Dick moved to the Village at Germantown in 2019. Shirley is survived by her son Dave; daughter-in-law Kate; grandchildren Nate, Isabella, and Diego; and her son Alan. She is also survived by her sister, Nancy, nephew Chris (Denise), nieces Becky and Missy, and three grand-nieces and a grandnephew. Shirley was known for her happy laugh and ease with which she made friends. She was perfect for her job helping people learn healthy lifestyles. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 22 at 2 pm at Balmoral Presbyterian Church in Memphis. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations should be made to Balmoral Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 17309, Memphis, TN 38187.