- Date Of Birth: July 28, 1927
- Date Of Death: July 26, 2011
- State: Arizona
Shirley Rumple, of Scottsdale, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 26th. She was almost 84. She was predeceased by her sister (Lorraine), her husband (Kenneth Rumple), and her brother (Duane). She is survived by three daughters: Kathy Sollenberger (husband Mark), Karen Diggs, and Karol Leavitt; and four grandchildren (Kelly Sollenberger, Kris Sollenberger, Kory Leavitt, and Kara Leavitt).
Shirley Elizabeth Flanagan was the eldest of three, born on July 28th, 1927 in Avon, Indiana. She moved to Bloomington, married Kenneth Leroy Rumple in 1946, and started a family there. She always considered Bloomington her home. Besides raising her three beautiful daughters, Shirley spent several years at Indiana University. She excelled in the world of academia, even earning a perfect GPA during her freshman year (one of only 17 students in a class of over 2,000 to achieve such an honor). She remained an honor student throughout her years at IU, and was one of the first married women to be initiated into a sorority on campus (Alpha Phi – Beta chapter). In 1960, she was initiated into Kappa Kappa Kappa (“Tri Kappas”), a philanthropic sorority which she remained a part of for decades. Years later, as Chapter President, she was instrumental in raising over $27,000 to donate a fully furnished new room as part of an additional wing of the Bloomington Hospital.
In the 1970s, Shirley became the West Coast Representative of the NTIC (National Transportation Information Center) and traveled around the country with a briefcase in hand… quite unusual work for a woman at that time. Although she continued to travel the world following her husband’s passing in 1982, Shirley moved to Scottsdale to be closer to her daughters and their families. She was undoubtedly considered the “favorite” grandparent by her grandchildren, and was loved for her wry sense of humor and amazing generosity. Shirley will forever be remembered for her unwavering devotion to her family, her smart wit, and her elegant beauty.
Her friends and family will be celebrating the life of Shirley Rumple on Tuesday, August 2nd from 4:00 – 7:00 pm at Messinger Mortuary in Scottsdale (7601 E. Indian School Road).
