Gary Houston Shirk, 71, of Marysville, died March 7, 2018, in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
He graduated from Marysville High School in 1964 and The Ohio State University in 1969. He was working as an arborist and horticulturist at Advanced Arboreal Care until he retired in 2016.
He was a lifelong Quaker and member of Virginia Beach Friends Meeting Church in Virginia. He had a passion for entertaining as a musician and a singer. In his retirement, he enjoyed volunteering for Creeds Elementary School’s reading buddies program, Guiding Eyes for the Blind and its puppysitting program and the Back Bay Wildlife Restoration Foundation as an interpreter.
He was born July 26, 1946, in Kenton, to the late Ruth W. and Floyd H. Shirk. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his stepmother, Frieda S. Shirk.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Tingle-Shirk; sister, Donna Kinder; brother, Dennis D. (Cindy) Shirk; nephews, Douglas R. (Heather) Kinder and Darin R. (Heather) Kinder; and beloved dog companion, Heidi.
A Celebration of Life service will be held for friends and family at 2 p.m. April 22 at Virginia Beach Friends Meeting Church, 1537 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
It is requested donations be made in his name to Guiding Eyes for the Blind, 611 Granite Spring Rd., Yorktown Heights, NY 10598.