Cover photo for Virginia Irene Shonk's Obituary
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1941 Virginia Irene Shonk 2024

Virginia Irene Shonk

August 5, 1941 — May 18, 2024

Beach City

Virginia Irene Ferrell Shonk, age 82, of Beach City, passed away Saturday, May 18, 2024, while in the care of Ohio’s Hospice in Hennis Care Center at Bolivar.

Known as Irene to friends and family, she was born in her grandparent’s Freeport home on August 5, 1941, a daughter of the late Alfred and Beulah Decker Ferrell.

On May 27, 1978, she married James A. Shonk. Together they celebrated 44 years of marriage prior to his death on January 23, 2023.

Irene was a longtime member of Beach City United Methodist Church. She retired in 1996 following a 30-year career with Massillon Container. Irene was a loving, giving, caring, individual who used her orneriness and sass as her love language. She loved cooking big family meals and never let her family leave her without giving them some special token or gift. She was a lifelong animal lover having had numerous pets throughout her lifetime which even included a pet racoon, Ringo, and a pet skunk, Pierre in her younger years. 

She was a fan of NASCAR and Mark Martin and an avid fan of the Cleveland Indians. Irene also loved craftwork, working in her flower beds, attending auctions, taking bus tours throughout the United States, traveling to West Virginia to peep at the fall leaves, and playing Bingo at the nursing home.

She is survived by her daughter, Maudie (Vance) Wiles of Strasburg; her grandchildren, Travis (Colton Jones) Wiles, Tad Wiles, and McKenzie Wiles; a brother, Ernest (Joann) Ferrell of Dennison; a sister-in-law, Donna Ferrell of Beach City, and three nieces.

In addition to her parents and husband, Irene was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Ferrell.

The family will greet guests one hour prior to services from 10 AM – 11 AM on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover where Pastor Bill Eckert will lead a service celebrating Irene’s life at 11 AM. The family invites guests to join them for a brief luncheon in the Hospitality Room of the Geib Center immediately following the service.  A 2 PM burial service will take place in the Greenmont Union Cemetery at Freeport.

The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to the entire care team of Hennis Bolivar and the caregivers of Ohio’s Hospice for their wonderful and attentive care to Irene.


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Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

10:00 - 11:00 am (Eastern time)

Geib Funeral Center at Dover

5600 N. Wooster Ave., Dover, OH 44622

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Service

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Starts at 11:00 am (Eastern time)

Geib Funeral Center at Dover

5600 N. Wooster Ave., Dover, OH 44622

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Graveside Service

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Starts at 2:00 pm (Eastern time)

Greenmont Cemetery

Freeport, OH 43973

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