Shirley Kandel Raber, age 82, of Winesburg, Ohio passed away peacefully with family at her side on Sunday, June 28, 2026 under hospice care in St. Marys, Georgia, following a short illness. 

 

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, July 6th at New Leaf Church with Pastor Jeff Bargerstock officiating. Burial will take place at Longenecker Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the church.

 

In lieu of flowers, family suggests memorial contributions be made to New Leaf Church in Shirley's memory. 

 

Those wishing to share a memory or make online condolences may do so by visiting www.alexanderfhinc.com. 

 

Shirley was born March 17, 1944 in Millersburg, Ohio and was the daughter of Walter and Katie Kandel. On June 3, 1961 she married Elmer J. Raber and he preceded her in death in April of 2012. 

 

Shirley was a retired school bus driver for East Holmes School District. She was a faithful member of New Leaf Church. Shirley enjoyed fishing, hunting, jigsaw puzzles and bird watching. She and her husband loved to entertain.

 

She is survived by her son, Norman (Merry) Raber of St. Marys, Georgia; her son-in-law, Ernie Fortune of Nashville, Ohio; two grandchildren, Katie Raber and Jacob Raber; and a brother, Paul Kandel of Alabama. She is also survived special nieces: Miriam Coblentz, Gladys Andrews, Barb Hostetler, Mabel Sterling, Ruthann Yoder, Irene Smith, and Juanita Yoder.

 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer and daughter, Marlene Fortune.