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BORN
1928
DIED
2024
FUNERAL HOME
Wilfred Shea Obituary
October 1, 1928 - October 20, 2024
Raleigh, North Carolina - Funeral Mass will be held at noon (which follows praying of the rosary at 11:30 a.m.) on Saturday, November 2, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Raleigh. Mike's burial will be Monday, November 4, at 11 a.m. at Raleigh Memorial Park on Glenwood Avenue. Condolences and more information at rfhr.com
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Memories and Condolences
for Wilfred Shea
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5 Entries
Vance Wrenn
February 19, 2025
Mr Mike Shea was my track coach in 1960. He was the reason that I came to NCState. Before I met him , I was planning to go to High Point college. A great Christian man. I will never forget him. We had a lot of fun on the track field and at track meets. We met one afternoon on the NCS track field and he wanted to video (8 mm) me in the long jump.
I broke the NCS long jump record in that video just over 23 ft. I enjoyed working with coach Shea and coach Paul Derr.
Beth Pruitt
November 4, 2024
So sorry of your Dads passing. He was loved and inspritional. I remember him running on a regular basis. He was an important part of the Catholic community.
john steigerwald
October 28, 2024
to the Shea family. Your dad was special to all of us who went to Lourdes. I remember him teaching PE there when I was in school, including boxing. he had a great line about playing baseball or softball saying " you need to RUN onto and off the field because it is basically the only exercise you will get. a lot of pitch and catch between 2 people." Your dad was a lovely man that gave a lot to Lourdes and others. i am very sorry for your loss.
Jim Kennedy
October 26, 2024
Mike was one of the nicest people at NCSU long with Bill Sonner, glad to have known both of them at NC State College and helped Mike with track meets.
Cathy Crossland
October 25, 2024
Mike was a true legend at NC State and his figure became as well known as the Memorial Belltower in the 1970´s and early 80´s. When I first arrived as a young professor at the university my running buddy and I hardly passed a day without seeing Mike or one of the Shea kids running somewhere at some time of the day or early evening. We will never know how many trails the Shea family literally tramped into existence as they traversed the campus and nearby properties. Mike was unfailingly gracious to everyone and it was not uncommon to see people stop whatever they were doing to wave as he ran by. It was rumored so frequently that it became part of his lore - that Mike did not own a car and insisted on his own foot power as transportation. We basked in the elevation of our women's Cross Country program under Coach Shea, along with with his daughters, Julie and Mary and Betty Springs. Our present three-consecutive NCAA Women's Championship in Cross County had its beginnings with Coach Shea (followed by the future legendary coaches Rollie Geiger and Laurie Henes); we are forever grateful. You lifted us up, Mike, and now it is your turn to be lifted up.
"A kind heart he hath. A woman would run through fire and water for such a kind heart." William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Cathy Crossland
Professor of Special Education
Director of the Diagnostic Teaching Clinic
NC State
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