Fannie Shell

Franklin, WV Fannie L. Shell, 72, widow of Rev. Charles C. Shell, who resided at Pendleton Manor, Franklin, WV, and formerly of McDowell, VA, passed away Sunday, April 19, 2015 at Rockingham Memorial Hospital. Born January 14, 1943, in Lititz, PA, Fannie was the second daughter of the late Jacob and Fannie (Oberholzter) Buckwalter. Mrs. Shell graduated from Lancaster Mennonite School on May 27, 1960, and went on to graduate from Lancaster City School District School of Practical Nursing on August 23, 1963. While working at St. Joseph's Hospital, Mrs. Shell met her husband. They were married on June 5, 1965. In December 1965, they moved to Wilmington, DE, where they lived for the next 11 years. Then in 1978, they moved to Frederick, MD. After her husband's death in 1988, Mrs. Shell moved to Burnsville, VA. Mrs. Shell was a wife and home schooling mother. She played the autoharp, and loved bird watching, gardening and reading poetry. A very creative person, Mrs. Shell enjoyed sewing, knitting and crocheting. She loved children and especially enjoyed visits from her grandchildren. Her home was always open to friends and family. During her trips to China to visit her son, she toured the Great Wall of China and the Heavenly Lake. Several orphanages in China were the recipients of hundreds of quilts that she pieced. She was awarded the Maryland Full-time Homemaker of the Year Award in 1986 by Phyllis Schlafly and the Eagle Forum. She is survived by her four daughters and sons-in-law, Mary Lou and Victor Menning of Young America, MN, Katie and Chris Patrick of Kimball, MI, Sarah and Lon Ricketts of Monterey, and Lois and Steve Perks of Washington, D. C.; eight sons and daughters-in-law, Timothy and Naomi Shell of Mongolia, Samuel and Michelle Shell of Monterey, Benjamin and Emily Shell of Mt. Pleasant, MI, Daniel Shell of Dayton, David and Mary Shell of Farwell, MI, Michael and Eva Shell of Monterey, Aaron and Esther Shell of Clare, MI, Joseph and Rosene Shell of McDowell; thirty-five grandchildren; four sisters, RuthAnna Willis of San Antonio, TX, Mary Brubaker of York, PA, Naomi Harring of Sarasota, FL, Sue Arbaugh of Lexington; five brothers, Jacob Buckwalter of New Buffalo, PA, John Buckwalter of Lititz, PA, Daniel Buckwalter of Homer, AK, David Buckwalter of Lititz, PA, Ben Buckwalter of Anna, TX, and many nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be conducted 2 p.m., Sunday, April 26, 2015 at the Stonewall Ruritan Building, McDowell, VA with Claire Heatwole officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. An additional funeral service will be held 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at Resthaven Memorial Gardens Chapel, Frederick, MD, with the Rev. William Gram and Pastor Kyle Buckwalter officiating. The family will again receive friends one hour prior to service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Frederick Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 3389, Frederick, MD 21701 or Pendleton Manor, P.O. 700, Franklin, WV 26807.

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