Margaret Corr Shanks

Margaret Corr Shanks died peacefully in her home on Sunday morning, August 25, 2024.

Margaret was born in Richmond, VA to Graham Lively Corr and Mary Blackley Corr on March 19, 1929. Margaret and her family were members of Leigh Street Baptist Church where Margaret played the beautiful pipe organ in the church at age twelve and also played the piano for friends' and members' weddings and other occasions.

After graduating from John Marshall High School in 1946, Margaret worked as an executive secretary to the President of VEPCO in Richmond, now Dominion Energy Virginia. Margaret also supervised the 'steno pool' and had many friends whom she traveled with to New York, Canada and other places with their mothers and fathers as chaperones. She and her work friends had other adventures too, including learning to horse back ride. Many of these girlfriends remained good friends throughout her life.

It was while working at VEPCO that Margaret met her husband, Clent, on a fishing trip blind date on the Chesapeake Bay. Neither were very interested in this set up, but after a wonderful day together they continued dating.



Margaret and Clent were married at Leigh Street Baptist Church in Richmond, VA on October 6, 1956. They had two children, Linda Shanks McKee and Clenton Andrew Shanks. Clent was promoted to Manager of VEPCO's Virginia Beach District office and moved the family there in March 1967.

Margaret returned to work in 1973 as the church secretary at Bayside Presbyterian Church in Virginia Beach. She thoroughly enjoyed her 23 years with the church because she valued knowing and helping people so much. She always spoke fondly of working with the members of the property committee, the food pantry and Chester, the Sextant. She had many happy times working with the office staff and pastors over the years. Dr. Richard Keever has remained a dear friend to her and her family.

The family loved to travel and be near the ocean and spent Sunday afternoons at Virginia Beach, weeks in the Outer Banks and trips to the coast of Maine, a place that holds wonderful memories for the entire family. Margaret and Clent traveled to many places in retirement including Arizona, the Florida Everglades, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Canada. They especially loved to visit Skyland in Shenandoah National Park, the Peaks of Otter, and Chincoteague.

Margaret loved and cared deeply for her family and many friends. She greatly enjoyed getting to know her caregivers and learning about their children and families. She was an avid reader, loved crossword puzzles, mystery novels and, even as her eyesight began to fail, she continued to listen to books on tape and TV to remain current with things going on nationally and locally. She was an excellent cook, planning and preparing healthy meals throughout her life. She had a wonderful sense of humor, and a not-so-secret love of chocolate, particularly malted milk balls.

Margaret was predeceased by Clent, her husband of 64 years. She is survived by her daughter, Linda, son, Andy (Loretta), grand-daughter Stephanie Inderlied (Matt), and great-granddaughter, Ada, and many dear nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family would like to thank The Key, all of the caregivers, and especially some of the caregivers who have been part of our family almost every day for many years, including Tsega Anteneh, Shatoria Ames, Melody Fludd, Jennifer Novotny, and Bresha Bynum. Margaret and her family care for them very much and their kindness, love and professionalism has been so cherished. Margaret was so thankful for her many doctors including Dr. Donald Hastings, primary care physician with Harmony Cares, Dr. John Sheppard, Dr. Albert Cheung and Dr. Andrew Pittner, eye surgeons with Virginia Eye Consultants and Dr. Philip Gentlesk, cardiologist with Sentara Cardiology Specialists. We also would like to recognize the wonderful care, commitment, and friendship shown by Linda Brown for so many years.

There will be a Celebration of Life Ceremony officiated by Dr. Richard Keever at Bayside Presbyterian Church, 1400 Ewell Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23455 on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at 2:00 pm with a reception following the service in the fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Bayside Presbyterian Church in dedication to the preservation of the columbarium or the Glaucoma Research Foundation at glaucoma.org for the Catalyst for a Cure Vision Restoration Initiative. Donations can be made online: https://glaucoma.org/?form=donate or to the following address:

Glaucoma Research Foundation

251 Post Street, Suite 600

San Francisco, CA 94108

(415) 986-3162