Shirley Braden

BRADEN, HOPF

Posted By: Cindy (email)
Date: 8/2/2022 at 16:22:28

Shirley Braden, 89, of Dallas died Jan. 11.

She was born in Independence, Iowa, to Albert and Helen Hopf.

Shirley was a graduate of Winthrop (Iowa) High School, Iowa State University at Ames and had a master's degree from the University of Maryland.

She married Lt. John Braden on Oct. 20, 1933; he also was a graduate of Winthrop High School and Iowa State University. They lived in California until he went overseas to serve in the military.

Shirley taught family and consumer science in Minnesota and Iowa. She was head of the six-teacher family and consumer science department for 23 years in Annapolis, Md. During World War II she was a research chemist with the Frigidaire Division of General Motors, making propellers for B-29 bombers. She had also been an assistant dietitian for the U.S. Army Air Corp at Wright-Patterson Air Base in Dayton, Ohio.

Shirley was a lifelong church worker and member. As a member of Dallas United Methodist Church she belonged to United Methodist Women, a circle, prayer group, book club and sewing group. In Maryland she had been a Sunday school teacher, president of the Women's Society, a circle leader and the local organizer for a Lay Witness Mission. When their son, Rick, was young she was a den mother and cheered him on in his many sports activities.

Camping was the Bradens' family hobby, as well as boating on Chesapeake Bay. They were charter members of Chesapeake Crab Pickers camping club, members of the National Campers and Hikers Association and the Maryland Campers and Hikers Association, of which Shirley was state treasurer for two years.

Shirley was a 68-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star and had been a member of Naomi Chapter No. 22 in Dallas. She was a past member of Polk County Retired Educators (past president), Mistletoe Extension Study Group, Polk County Homemakers Extension Council Alumni, Dallas Seniors and a former member of Dallas Women's Club.