Gwendolyn McMinn Shipman

Fairview ~ Gwendolyn Eloise McMinn Shipman, 83, died peacefully on Saturday, January 24, 2009, she was a resident of Fleshers Fairview Nursing Center, since 2005. A native of Buncombe County, she was the only daughter of the late Harry J. and Helen Frady McMinn. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 28 years, Homer Shipman, Jr., who died in 1992 and a son-in-law, Franklin Robinson. Gwen retired after 42 years of service with Southern Bell as an operator and office clerk. She was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church and also attended Emma United Methodist Church. Gwen always enjoyed life to the fullest. She shared special friendships with Mary Ann Embler, Dot Carver, Betty Sue Moore, Berta Springer, Mary Helen Buckner, and the late Carolyn Moore. These ladies enjoyed dining out, traveling to the Grand Canyon, Myrtle Beach and Pigeon Forge. But no friend-ship outing interfered with Gwen's Friday hair appointment. This was written in stone. (Thank you Teresa). Gwen's family includes three daughters, Pat Robin-son of Leicester, Darlene Fitzgerald and her husband, Danny, of Thomasville, NC and Karen Doan and her husband, Kendall, of Asheville; Gwen is also survived by two sons, Gene Burns and his wife, Jeannie, of Arden and Michael Shipman of Burnsville; she was the grandmother of seven grandchildren, Nancy Jones Guth-rie and husband Tom , Rob Burns and wife Kim, Kevin Fitzgerald and wife Amy, Shannon Phillips and hus-band Josh, Cory Fitzgerald, Jessica Shipman, Erin Fitz-gerald and great-grandmother to Avenue Phillips and Faith Fitzgerald. Gwen's family wishes to thank the staff members of Fleshers for all the daily TLC shown to "Gwennie" over the past four years. Karen would like to personally thank Dr. Culver and the staff of the Flower Wing for making Gwennie feel so special throughout her final days. Karen would also like to of-fer a special thank you to her family and friends who have supported her through this journey of caring for an aging parent. It did not go unnoticed. A funeral service will be held 6:30 PM Wednesday in the chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian. Burial will be 11:00 AM Thursday along side her hus-band at Ashelawn Gardens of Memory. The family will receive friends following the service at the funeral home on Wednesday. Memorials may be made to Fleshers Fairview Healthcare Activities Fund, P.O. Box 1160, Fairview, NC 28730(Thank You Tina & Renee) or to the Alzheimer's Association Western Carolina Chapter, 31 College Place, Suite D320 Asheville, NC 28801-2644.