Shirley Unger Obituary

Shirley Lee Unger

Shirley Lee (Cowman) Unger, 87, of Findlay, passed away Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, at Bridge Hospice Care Center, Findlay.

She was born Oct. 21, 1936, in Yankton, South Dakota, to Kenneth and Agnes (Eide) Cowman. Shirley and her brothers and sisters were raised by her maternal grandparents after her mother died from TB. Her grandparents also had four children of their own. She attended Yankton Public Schools and graduated in 1955.

She moved to Long Beach, California, and married Ronald Garvey, also from Yankton, and they later divorced. Shirley worked her way up to an executive secretary at Autonetics Division of Rockwell International, an aerospace company that designed and manufactured aircraft and missile guidance systems. She met her husband of 56 years, John Unger, who was a project engineer on the Minuteman III ICBM. They married Nov. 18, 1967, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

She, John, and her son, Mark Garvey, moved to Dayton, where John's career in the aerospace business took him. While living in Dayton, Shirley became the executive assistant to the Director of the Dayton International Airshow. The family then moved to Findlay in 1983 and her working days came to an end. She was involved in the interior decorating and furnishing of a large Victorian home on South Main Street. She also got involved in antique collecting and doll house miniatures. She was the secretary of Findlay Historical Society for many years. It was then that she was introduced to a friend that would last for over 40 years, Christine Dysinger. They traveled to doll house miniature conventions and trade shows. Christine was a dealer and collector and Shirley was her helper when she wasn't buying miniatures. We will be forever grateful for Christine's love and devotion to Shirley.

Wherever Shirley lived, she had a flower garden with a multitude of garden ornaments. She also put together an amazing collection of Fiestaware. In 2002 when John retired, they built their dream house near Bluffton on a two-acre pond. She lived there for 20 years before they downsized in 2022 and moved to Findlay.

Shirley is survived by her husband, John F. Unger of Findlay; and son, Mark Garvey of Bluffton.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Beverly Mayhan; brother, Don Cowman; and infant daughter, Katherine Louise Unger.

At Shirley's request, there will be no visitation or services. She requested to be cremated.

COLDREN-CRATES FUNERAL HOME, 205 W. Sandusky Street, Findlay, has been entrusted with Shirley's care.

Memorial contributions in her name may be shared with Bridge Hospice, whose staff provided a pain free end of life.

Online condolences may be shared with her family at coldrencrates.com.