Shirley Ann (Wadsworth) Pelzel Obituary (1931 - 2022)

Shirley Ann (Wadsworth) Pelzel, 90, of Reston, VA, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, in Reston Hospital. She was born on November 24, 1931, the daughter of Basil and Marion Wadsworth, and grew up in Pittsburgh, PA. Whether as a player in a neighborhood pick-up baseball game or as a member of her South Hills High School women's softball, basketball, and volleyball teams, Shirl (also affectionately known as Shrilly) was an avid athlete and overall sports enthusiast. She never stopped being a fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers even after moving to Northern Virginia, where she also rooted for the Washington baseball, football, and hockey teams. Shirl graduated valedictorian in 1948 from South Hills High School in Pittsburgh. Shortly thereafter, she started her career as a secretary at West Penn Power. Well-liked, enthusiastic, and organized, Shirl continued to advance professionally as an executive secretary. She married in 1951, transferred to Baltimore and then to Lima, OH, where she had her two daughters, Sue and Jan. Shirl supported and encouraged her daughters in all their activities, never missing a dance recital, softball game, swim meet, award presentation, or graduation ceremony. Once her daughters were school age, and following a 1967 transfer to Springfield, VA, Shirl began an almost 20-year stint as office manager for Northern Virginia Gynecologists in Fairfax, VA. By the time she retired in 2002 at age 70, Shirl was head staff member to the GM at Raytheon in Falls Church, VA. Shirl's professional successes were many, but what she spoke of often and truly treasured were the lasting friendships she made during her life. Friends knew Shirl for her hard work, charitable giving, caregiving nature, volunteer spirit, and love of animals, especially her "granddogs." Friends within earshot also knew that Shirl loved to sing and had a lovely soprano singing voice that never left her. Often referred to as "fun" Aunt Shirl, she enjoyed an especially close relationship with her nieces and nephews: Georgie, Michael, Marion, and Phil. She cherished her role in their lives and loved being someone in which they could confide. To her great nephews and nieces, Shirl was known simply as "Great," the nickname for their Great Aunt Shirl, which she loved. Shirl was preceded in death by her sisters, Vivian English and Bette Metz, and her beloved niece, Lesley Metz, and nephew-in-law, Chuck Harding. She is survived by her daughters, Susan Pelzel (Bill de las Casas) of Chicago, IL, and Janet Pelzel (Doug Toppin) of Ashburn, VA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Homeless Animal Rescue Team or The Alzheimer's Association.