Shirley J. (Altman) Harper, 81, of Indiana, died Sunday, September 15, 2019 at her residence. She was the daughter of the late Thomas Swickey and Ethel (Lape) Swickey, of Clymer, who had both passed when Shirley was 3 years old. She was later adopted by the late Cloid (Jim) Altman and Louise (Hess) Altman. She was the wife of James Harper, who she married November 30, 1985 at Grace United Methodist Church.
Shirley was a graduate of Indiana High School, and went on to work for the Indiana Gazette, Indiana School District, and Season-All Industries, Indiana.
She loved interior design, gardening, reading, cooking, and spending time with her grandchildren. Shirley also enjoyed her Shih-Tzu, Chen, and her Cockatiel Bird, Molly.
She was a member of the Christ Episcopal Church of Indiana, and she had also attended St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church for many years with her husband.
In addition to her husband, Shirley is survived by her two sons: Dorse Spicher, Jr. and his wife, Sue, of Indiana; and Chris Spicher, and his wife, Sandra, of Inwood, WV; her step-children: Tim Harper, and his wife, Brandy, of Beaver Dam, WI; and Mary Jane Pella, and her husband Mark, of Taylors, SC. She will also be missed by her grandchildren: Kylee Dickinson, and husband, Ben, of Pittsburgh; and Keldon Spicher, of Pittsburgh; and Zackery, Genna, and Spencer Harper, of Beaver Dam, WI; as well as her siblings: Ted Altman, Indiana; and Karen Hill, and her husband, Calvin, of Dover, DE.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Roger, her sister, Ruth Ann, her half-sister, Dolores Lewis, and sister – in – law, Joanne Altman.
Friends will be received Thursday, September 19th from 11 until 1 PM, with her funeral service to directly follow at the Rairigh-Bence Funeral Home, of Indiana. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery, Indiana.
Online Condolences may be offered by visiting rbfh.net.
