Obituary of Shirley Ruth Bendl

Mrs. Shirley Ruth (Fox) Bendl, age 94, of Gloversville, New York, passed away on Friday, April 14, 2023 at Nathan Littauer Hospital in Gloversville surrounded by her loving family and friends.

She was born at her family home on September 23, 1928 in Northville, New York, a daughter of Arthur and Harriet (Sauer) Fox. After she left high school, she was employed as a supervisor at the Wassaic State School of Poughkeepsie, NY, a ward for at-risk girls. She later returned upstate and worked for the Gloversville Working Girl's Home on E. State St. in a similar capacity. On June 24, 1961 Shirley married Edward M. Bendl, and they shared forty eight wonderful years together before Ed's passing on August 8, 2009. Shirley, Ed, and Ed's brother Frank also ran Bendl's Brass Rail in Northville (now the Timeless Tavern).  Ed and Shirley were both employed by NA Taylor for many years.

She was a devout Lutheran, and she and Ed held memberships in the St. James Lutheran church on Grand St., and later at the North Main St. location. Most recently she held a membership with Grace Lutheran in Johnstown, NY. Shirley enjoyed music, singing, and dancing, and loved participating in various choirs, singing at nursing facilities and other events. She had a knack for knowing everyone’s birthdays, and treasured when they remembered hers, seeming to never throw a card away. After Ed's passing, Shirley began attending a grief support group through Mountain Valley Hospice, but given Shirley's gift for making friends, that group evolved into a "Wednesday Soup Group", and she never missed the opportunity to socialize. Shirley loved her friends deeply, but her family was her entire world, treating each of her nieces, nephews, and eventually their children as if they were her own.

Shirley is survived by many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, and cousins.

She was predeceased by her parents: Arthur L. and Harriet A. Fox; her beloved husband: Edward M. Bendl; and her siblings: Donald (Lena) Fox, Lewis (Hazel) Fox, Jean (Robert) Porter, Norma Armstrong (Fran), and Audrey (Oakley) Brower.

Shirley's family will receive relatives and friends for a period of visitation from 11am to 12 noon on Saturday, July 8th at Grace Lutheran Church, 1 West Montgomery St., Johnstown, New York 12095 where a Memorial Service will follow at noon with the Vicar Missy officiating.

Interment will take place following the memorial service at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Northville, New York.

Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Shirley to Mountain Valley Hospice, 108 Steele Avenue, Gloversville, NY 12078, or to Grace Lutheran Church, 1 West Montgomery St., Johnstown, New York 12095.

The staff of Walrath & Stewart Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the Bendl family.