Gerda Elisabeth Heller Shipe of Reston, VA died Saturday February 19, 2011.
Mrs. Shipe was born in Schwetzingen, Germany, and was the daughter of the late Johann Paul and Elise Bauer Heller.
She studied languages at schools in Heidelberg, Germany, and attended Northeastern University in Massachusetts.
Mrs. Shipe was an active and founding member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Reston. Among other activities for the church, she taught Sunday school and served on its Altar Guild. She was a longtime volunteer for The Closet, a church sponsored thrift shop, and served on its Board. She was a frequent volunteer for other organizations.
On September 15, 1956, she was united in marriage to Arthur Lynn Shipe, who survives. She is also survived by three daughters, Kimberly Shipe of Harrisonburg, Karen (Mike) Coble of Arlington, and Kelly (Chip) Dettra of Reston; seven grandchildren; and a brother Karl Heller of Schwetzingen, Germany. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Dieter and Herbert Heller.
A memorial service for Mrs. Shipe will be conducted by the Rev. William Flammann at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1133 Reston Ave., Herndon, VA 20170, on March 5, 2011 at 2:00 P.M. The family will receive guests following the service. Burial will be private.
The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6-8 P.M. at the Grandle Funeral Home in Broadway.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Doctors Without Borders, 333 Seventh Ave., Second Floor, New York, NY 10001, or to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Altar Guild.
Gerda Elisabeth Heller Shipe of Reston, VA died Saturday February 19, 2011.
Mrs. Shipe was born in Schwetzingen, Germany, and was the daughter of the late Johann Paul and Elise Bauer Heller.
She studied languages at schools in Heidelberg, Germany, and attended Northeastern University in Massachusetts.
Mrs. Shipe was an active and founding member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Reston. Among other activities for the church, she taught Sunday school and served on its Altar Guild. She was a longtime volunteer for The Closet, a church sponsored thrift shop, and served on its Board. She was a frequent volunteer for other organizations.
On September 15, 1956, she was united in marriage to Arthur Lynn Shipe, who survives. She is also survived by three daughters, Kimberly Shipe of Harrisonburg, Karen (Mike) Coble of Arlington, and Kelly (Chip) Dettra of Reston; seven grandchildren; and a brother Karl Heller of Schwetzingen, Germany. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Dieter and Herbert Heller.
A memorial service for Mrs. Shipe will be conducted by the Rev. William Flammann at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1133 Reston Ave., Herndon, VA 20170, on March 5, 2011 at 2:00 P.M. The family will receive guests following the service. Burial will be private.
The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6-8 P.M. at the Grandle Funeral Home in Broadway.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Doctors Without Borders, 333 Seventh Ave., Second Floor, New York, NY 10001, or to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Altar Guild.
