William M. (Bill)
Shirey, Jr.
William M. (Bill) Shirey, Jr. died peacefully of natural causes on Monday, December 13, 2021, surrounded by his family. He was born on March 1, 1941, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, the eldest of three children born to William M. Shirey, Sr. and Mary A. Shirey (Ebert).
Bill spent his early years growing up on a goat farm in Cressona, Pa., where his family resided until moving to Kent County Delaware when he was a boy. He graduated from Caesar Rodney High School (Class of 1959), where he met the love of his life, DeLois M. Nolan. Bill was a member of the Delaware National Guard and an Army veteran who served on active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Bill was a successful businessman who combined his love of automobiles with his gift for sales. He founded Shirey's Auto Sales with his wife DeLois in 1975, which they operated together for 42 years until their retirement in 2017.
Bill was also a devout Christian. He was an independent, fundamental Baptist who trusted the Lord as his Savior in 1975. He was a member of Capitol Baptist Church for 42 years, during which time he served as a deacon for 30 years and as a member of the school board. He was also active in junior church, the bus ministry, the nursing home ministry and in ministering to people with disabilities, which he called "precious jewels". In addition to his local church, he was a member of Gideons International, formerly serving as its Kent County president, served on the board of Heritage Bible College in Greenwood, Indiana, and generously supported numerous other local and international Christian ministries, evangelists, pastors and missionaries with his time and his financial resources.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, DeLois (Nolan); three children, Michael A. Shirey, Sr. (Kathleen) of Milford, Brian D. Shirey of Seaford, and Keith A. Shirey of Dover; fourteen grandchildren, Mark A. Shirey of Milford, Nicole K. Gifford (Luke) of Lexington, Kentucky, Michelle E. Jump (Brandon) of Richmond, Virginia, Evan S. Shirey and Rebecca E. Shirey of Seaford, Zachary Porter (Raine) of Arkansas, Randall W. Shirey of Lynchburg, Virginia, Noah A. Shirey, Gabriella D. Shirey, Isaac A. Shirey, Hannah G. Shirey, Faith A. Shirey, Chloe N. Shirey, and Elijah P. Shirey of Lincoln; and five great-grandchildren, Ezra F., Ophelia J. and Clementine A. Gifford of Lexington, Kentucky, Isabel R. Jump of Richmond, Virginia, and Madison and Keagan Porter of Arkansas; his sister, Patricia A. Dawson of Dover; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William M. Shirey, Sr. and Mary A. Shirey (Ebert); his brother, Gary J. Shirey; and his grandson, Michael A. Shirey, Jr.
A celebration of Bill's life will be held on Thursday, December 23, 2021, at 1 p.m. at Torbert Funeral Chapel South, 1145 E. Lebanon Road (Rt.10), Dover. A viewing will be held one hour prior and from 5 – 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 22.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Bill's memory to the Capitol Baptist Church Building Fund, 401 Kesselring Avenue, Dover, DE 19904.
Letters of condolence may be sent, and guestbook signed at www.torbertfuneral.com