William Harrison Shirk

William Harrison Shirk, better known as Bill, passed away on Sunday, June 25, 2023 after a long illness. He died in his home in Jefferson Hills surrounded by family.

Bill grew up in central Pennsylvania and attended Penn State University. He then attended Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, KY. While working as a youth pastor in 1976, Bill met Kathy, his wife of 46 years, at a youth retreat. He pastored several churches (Walkchalk, Elizabeth, Glassport, & West Mifflin) and worked as a Chaplain at Kane Regional Center and Allegheny General Hospital. Bill spent 26 years as a Chaplain in the US Army Reserves before retiring as a Lt. Colonel. A published poet with an amazing sense of humor, Bill was an avid reader and a fan of a good cigar. Bill enjoyed gift giving, westerns, desserts, and sarcasm, which he considered an art form. 

He will be deeply missed by his two children, Loren (Cliff) Luft and Ethan (Heather) Shirk, his three grandchildren Grace, Jonah and Julia, and by his four sisters, Susan Shirk, Kathy Manning, Margaret Gilreath, and Mary Henderson.

All are welcome to attend a Committal Service held at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies (Bridgeville, PA) on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at 10:00 AM with a Celebration of Life Luncheon to follow at the South Hills Country Club. 

In lieu of flowers, support can be given to Bill's nephew Ben Graber and his family, who are missionaries with Mission to the World in Germany.  Donations can be made at https://mtw.org/missionaries/details/ben-and-anna-graber.