Shirley Force

Shirley Gene Force, 88, of Altoona walked out of this life and into eternal life in heaven Monday morning. She was the daughter of John and Mary Force of Altoona. Shirley graduated from Altoona High School in 1942 and also volunteered at the Altoona Hospital School of Nursing during that time. She always had a smile on her face and truly enjoyed the life with which God had blessed her. She was never married but used most of her time to become involved in others' lives and to continually look for ways to give back to others in the community. Shirley had an active life with many accomplishments, including attending classes at Penn State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fort Wayne Bible College in 1952 and securing her master's degree in social work from Indiana-Purdue University in 1961. Her most notable lifetime impact was evidenced by her compassion for young people in need. She was a childcare worker at Girlhaven School in Hollidaysburg and a teen girls' supervisor at Family and Children Services of Blair County. She also served as director of the Blair County Children and Youth Agency, where she was a regional field representative. Shirley was instrumental in forming the first child development program in Blair County. Her contributions include holding offices in the National Association of Social Workers and as a member of the Blair County Health and Welfare Council. At one point, she was a board member for the Blair County Home Nursing Agency. Shirley touched the lives of many young girls who attended Girlhaven, some of whom have stayed in touch with her throughout the rest of her life. She received the John Riley Human Service Award from the Blair County Advisory Council, and she retired as a social worker. Her additional activities included working for the Gospel Bookstore. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church on Ruskin Drive, Altoona, since 1936, where she faithfully devoted her entire life to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as a Sunday school teacher and church treasurer and lending a hand whenever needed. Shirley had a magnetic personality, and she has touched many hearts and lives with eternal value. She will be missed by those whose lives she reached and were impacted by the light and love of God throughout her life. Two of Shirley's favorite passages were Psalm 23 and 103. Friends will be received from 11 a.m. until the 1 p.m. funeral service Thursday, July 5, 2012, at Mauk & Yates Funeral Home Inc., Juniata, the Rev. Ronald Anderson officiating. Interment will be at Alto-Reste Park Cemetery. www.maukandyates.com