4/12/2017
James H. “Bud” Shirk, 88, of Lancashire Terrace Retirement Village, formerly of Smoketown and New Holland, left his earthly life for his eternal home on April 12, 2017. Born in Gap, he was the son of the late Peter and Joanna Hoover Shirk. He was married to the Rev. Grace Lawrence Shirk on May 23, 2004, and the late Katherine Swinehart Shirk his wife of 48 years who died on Apr. 11, 2002.
Bud was a long and faithful member of First Baptist Church, Lancaster for 64 years serving as deacon, trustee, Sunday School teacher, property committee and usher. Active with American Baptist Men of PA and Delaware, he was named Layman of the Year in 2007. He worked with Kingdom Builders and disaster relief. Mr. Shirk answered the call of Fire Company 4-1, located in Bird-in-Hand and served as chaplain for nearly 30 years. He was recognized for his service as one who made an incredible impression on multiple generations of volunteers.
Bud was an electrician for Lapp Electric retiring in 2003. He served on the board of managers property committee for the Lykens Valley Camp-Meeting, Elizabethville. A servant of God in Haiti, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Katrina, W. Virginia, Alaska and Texas, he also worked with Habitat for Humanity. Bud served honorably in the US Army, a veteran of the Korean War.
Survivors include: his wife, Grace; father to Kay Shirk, Karen (Ken) Weaver, Kathy (Dave) Ulrich, Jim (Deb) Shirk, Kim (Dave) Brubaker; Grace’s children: Eric Lawrence, the late Blake Lawrence (wife Rachael), Claudia (Frank) Parise; he was known as “Poppy” to Janine (Darby) Graybill, Curtis (Beth), Derek (Shila) and Joel Ulrich, Angela (Scott) Green, Sara (Ryan) Ensor, Erik Weaver, Zachary, Joshua and Matthew Brubaker; great-grandfather to 15; brothers, Walter (Lorraine), Warren (Sally), Paul (Fay) Shirk; sister, Evelyn wife of the late Raymond Longenecker; sister-in-law, Erica Shirk.
He was also preceded in death by: a great-grandson, Josiah; brothers, Allen, Ernest, Raymond, Frank and Jay Shirk; sister, Anna Shirk.
Memorial Services: Wednesday, Apr. 19, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 612 N. Duke St., Lancaster, PA with greeting time from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Private interment of ashes: Trumbauer Mem. Cemetery, Leola. Memorials may be given to: the First Baptist Church, 612 N. Duke St., Lancaster, PA 17602; or Hand-in-Hand 4-1 Fire Company, 313 Enterprise Dr., Bird-in-Hand, PA 17505; or AseraCare Hospice, 280 Granite Run Dr. #180, Lancaster, PA 17601.