Shirley Reba Gurtler, 87, of California, MD passed away March 10, 2015 at Solomons Nursing Center in Solomons, MD. Born on March 14, 1927, in Utica, NY she is the daughter of the late Charles Wesley Henderson and Reba Elizabeth Bach Henderson.

On March 17, 1945, Shirley married her beloved husband, Alvia Theodore Hilliard in Interlaken, NY. Together they celebrated 25 wonderful years of marriage before his death in 1970. In 1972, she married the late Charles Edwin Gurtler. They spent 15 wonderful years together before his passing in 1987.

She began her career in banking in 1947 as a bookkeeper and worked her way up to becoming the first female assistant vice president of United Virginia Bank (currently SunTrust Bank). She was a dedicated employee for over 38 years in the banking industry before her retirement in 1985. She was a graduate of Interlaken Senior High School in 1944 and the American Institute of Banking in Washington, D.C. with a Certificate in Banking and then many more years of continuing education.

Shirley was independent and curious. She was an accomplished seamstress and loved to knit. She made clothing, sweaters and afghans for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed watering the lawn and working in her flower garden. She was an organist with a lifelong interest in music. Shirley and Alvia and their children lived in many different places during and after his naval career. They especially enjoyed their time living in California and Virginia.

Shirley is survived by her children, Karen Holcomb (Jack) of California, MD, Charles Hilliard (Jane) of Coral Springs, FL, and Leslie Hilliard (Linda) of Ellicott City, MD; three grandchildren, Janice Tyson Zilch (Pete) of Solomons, MD, Daniel Hilliard of Coral Springs, FL and Benjamin Hilliard of Coral Springs, FL; and two great grandsons, Aidan and Zachary Zilch, both of Solomons, MD. In addition to her parents and husbands, she is also preceded in death by her sisters, Betty Seufert, Beverly Covert, and Gloria Yaw.

Family will receive friends on Friday, March 13, 2015 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., with a Memorial Service celebrated by Elder Gene Fenwick of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witnesses at 5:00 p.m., at Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Interment will be held at a later date at East Lawn Memorial Park in Elk Grove, CA.

Memorial Contributions may be made to MedStar St. Mary's Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 527, Leonardtown, MD 20650 and Calvert Memorial Hospital Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 2127, Prince Frederick, MD 20678. Arrangements provided by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A.