Shirley Ann Warner

Shirley Ann Warner, 89, passed away at I.U. Health Ball Memorial Hospital on Friday, August 8, 2025.

Shirley was born on February 10, 1936, in Roachdale, Indiana, the seventh of ten children to Arthur and Daisy Witt. She spent her childhood in Roachdale and graduated from Roachdale High School in 1954. Upon graduation she was awarded a Delta Theta Tau Scholarship to study nursing at Saint Vincent's School of Nursing in Indianapolis, Indiana. Following graduation from Saint Vincent's she spent one year at Greencastle Hospital in Greencastle, Indiana, which was a requirement of the DTT scholarship. During the year in Greencastle, she studied at DePauw University and decided at that time to become an airline stewardess. She applied to Lake Central Airlines in Indianapolis and acquired a position as stewardess where she worked from 1958 to 1959 until her marriage to Ronald C. Warner who had just completed his service with the 11th Airborne Division, US Army in Germany and had enrolled as a student at Ball State Teachers College.

After her husband finished his BA degree at Ball State, they moved with their one-year-old daughter, Annaliese, to the University of Connecticut at Storrs, Connecticut where her husband began a Ph.D. program in German language, literature, and culture. During the four years they spent in Connecticut, Shirley worked at two different hospitals and gave birth to a second child, Calvin. In 1966 the family moved back to Muncie where her husband took a position as Assistant Professor of German at Ball State Teachers College.

While living in Muncie Shirley was employed as a nurse at several different places: the Muncie Clinic from 1959-1962, as a private duty nurse from 1966-1981, and as a WIC Program Nurse and later the Maternal and Child Health Care Nurse at the Open Door Clinic for 22 years until she retired in 2003.

Shirley was a wonderful wife and mother who cherished her family and loved her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to the bottom of her heart. She and her husband loved to travel. They spent time travelling with their children in many European and Scandinavian countries and in Central America and countries in the Far East including China. Shirley especially enjoyed spending time with her husband and family at their place on the shore of Barbee Lake where they cooked out and sat around the fire on peaceful moonlit evenings.

Shirley is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Dr. Ronald C. Warner, by her daughter, Annaliese Kinch (husband Steve), by her son, Calvin Warner (wife Kim), by five grandchildren, Colin Warner (wife Britney), Cole Warner (wife Taylor), Carlise Warner (boyfriend Paul Steindl), Dr. Meredith (Kinch) Ginet (husband Chris), and Evan Kinch (wife Kelsey), and five great-grandchildren, Lana, Camden, Birdie, Elliot, and Blanche. She is also survived by her sisters Betty Cloncs. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, and five sisters.

There will be calling with light refreshments held on Saturday, August 23, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at Big Walnut Winery, 5985 N CR 275 E, Greencastle, IN 45135. A Celebration of Life/Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be directed to: Open Door Health Services, 333 S. Madison St., Muncie, IN 47305

Arrangements are entrusted to The Meeks Mortuary and Crematory, Washington Street Chapel and online condolences may be left for the family at www.meeksmortuary.com