Shirley Louise Stanton Hitchcock, 84, of Russell, PA., died Monday morning, February 24, 2020. Shirley was born December 24, 1935 in Frewsburg, N.Y. She was the daughter of the late Paul and Marie Annis Stanton. A lifelong resident of the Lander area, she retired from the Warren County School District as a Kindergarten Teacher at Russell Elementary School. She previously taught at the Kennedy, N.Y. Elementary School, North Warren Elementary and Lander Elementary Schools.
She graduated from Sugar Grove Farmington Joint High School in 1953 and in 1957 from Edinboro State Teachers College.
Shirley was a member of PASR, PSEU Retired, member and Past President of Sugar Grove American Legion Auxiliary, former member and Co-Founder of the Warren County Women’s Horseshoe League, member of the Sugar Grove Senior Center and Allegheny Community Center serving as Secretary of the Board of Directors. Member of the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club Ladies Auxiliary. She was a member of the Lander United Methodist Church and the 4 L’s.
She will be remembered as a story reader in elementary school to her grandchildren and great grandchildren’s classes from the time of her retirement. Her joy was spending time at sporting events and other activities of the grandchildren. She enjoyed pitching horseshoes.
She is survived by her 3 children – Timothy Porter and wife, Tracey, of Lander, PA., Ronald Porter and wife, Lora of Sugar Grove, Suzanne VanOrd and husband, Mark of Lander, 1 Stepson – Danny Rutsky and wife, Mary of Pittsfield, PA., Grandchildren – Adam VanOrd and wife, Mollie, of Warren, PA., Benjamin VanOrd and wife, Shiella of Harborcreek, Pa., Thaddeus Porter and wife, Tory of Lander, Nicole Porter Williams and husband, Jeramy of Wrightsville, PA., Kayla and Brody Porter both of Sugar Grove, PA., 1 Brother – Raymond Stanton of Lander, PA., great grandchildren – Gunnar & Juliana, Isla & Talon VanOrd, Peityn Williams and Killian Porter. Several nieces, nephews, cousins and step grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her 1st husband, Joseph Rutsky on November 4, 1999, 2nd husband, Ford Hitchcock on September 13, 2005, 2 Stepsons – Howard and Terry Rutsky, 1 Sister –Beverly Church, 1 Sister-in-law, Nancy Stanton.
Friends may call at the Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home, Inc., 304 East Street, Warren, PA., on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 from 6 to 8 P.M. and on Thursday, February 27, 2020 at Lander United Methodist Church, Lander, PA from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. when a funeral service will be conducted with Rev. Mark Hurst, Pastor and Rev. Marcus Briggs, Retired minister, co-officiating. Interment will be in Thompson Hill Cemetery, Lander, PA. Those wishing to place memorials may do so through Lander United Methodist Church, 5582 Route 957, Russell, PA. 16345 or Thompson Hill Cemetery Association, %Raymond Stanton, 2525 Valentine Run Road, Russell, PA. 16345. E-mail condolences may be sent by visiting www.lewisfuneralhomeinc.com