Wilda Ruth Thompson Shirley

Funeral services to honor the life of Wilda Ruth Thompson Shirley will be held Saturday, May 28 at 11:00 am at Calvary Baptist Church in Natchitoches. Burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery immediately following the service. Visitation will be held Friday, May 27 from 5:00-9:00 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home and at Calvary Baptist Church from 10:00 am until time of service on Saturday. The service will be officiated by her nephew James Shirley. Wilda passed away on May 26, 2016 in Natchitoches, LA at the age of 86. She was born on February 1, 1930 in Ferriday, LA to her parents, William and Donna Thompson. She married Edgar D. “Buck” Shirley in 1951. Wilda was a graduate of Ferriday High School and attended Northwestern State College. She was a homemaker and enjoyed reading, puzzles, flowers, and most of all her family. She was a member of Eastern Star and of Calvary Baptist Church. Wilda was a loving mother and grand-mother and is survived by seven children: Donna Perot and husband Bryan, Michael Shirley and wife Tina, Keith Shirley and wife Jodi, all of Natchitoches, Ruth Laferriere and husband James of Ridgeland, South Carolina, Edward Shirley and wife Vicki of Dry Creek, Louisiana, Barbara McGrath and husband Joe of Georgetown, Texas, and Brian Shirley of Bluffton, South Carolina. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Wilda was preceded in death by her loving husband of 54 years Edgar David Shirley, parents William and Donna Thompson, and sister Helen Claire Spencer. Those honored to serve as pallbearers are grandsons Kyle Shirley, Andrew Shirley, Jon Shirley, Seth Shirley, nephew Terry Shirley, and great-grandson Brayden Barbo. Honorary pallbearers are Ronald Shirley and David Shirley. The family would like to extend their thanks to the staff of Natchitoches Community Care Center for their kindness and care.