Obituary of Shirley E. Rivers

Shirley Engel Rivers, aged 78 years, of Manassas, VA peacefully passed away on Tuesday, July 10, 2012, at Tall Oaks Assisted Living in Reston, VA, after a long battle with diabetes-related illnesses. Shirley was born in Washington, DC on December 26, 1933, to Evelyn and Lester Engel. In her youth, Shirley was Captain of the McKinley Tech High School Cheerleading Squad, an active member of her sorority, and was voted "Most Popular" in her Senior year. After graduation, Shirley had a long and successful administrative career with the U.S. Navy, working at the Naval Research Laboratory and David Taylor Naval Research Center, spanning over 30 years. After Shirley's retirement in the 90's, she filled her days with her children and grandchildren and was active in her church and community until her health concerns required her to move into Tall Oaks. Shirley spent 7 years at Tall Oaks and made many friends, both residents and staff, while there. Shirley was pre-deceased by her devoted husband, Howell "Hal" Rivers, her parents, Lester and Evelyn Engel, and her older sister, Bettie Lou Willis. She is survived by two brothers, Lester "Bud" Engel and his wife Brenda of Little Orleans, MD, and Richard "Lee" Engel and his wife Cathy of Frederick, MD; three sons, Tom Morris and his wife Julia of Sacramento, CA; Steve Morris and his wife Bridget of Bristow, VA; Tim Morris and his wife Angela of Sterling, VA; two daughters, Missy (née Morris) Darwiche and her husband Sami of Herndon, VA, and Leslie (née Rivers ) Ange and her husband Mick of Ashburn, VA; her grandchildren, Lindsay (née Morris )McMahan and her husband, Danny of Colonial Beach, VA; John Morris of Alexandria, VA; Patrick Morris and his wife, Kristina of Colonial Beach, VA; Sean Morris of Bristow, VA; Kevin Morris of Bristow, VA; Adam Darwiche of Arlington, VA; Ashleigh Ange of Philadelphia, PA; Alex Darwiche of Herndon, VA; Charlotte Morris of Sacramento, CA; Nick Ange of Ashburn, VA; and Cecelia Ange of Ashburn, VA; great-grandchildren, Trey and Jordan Allison, Kaleigh Shaw, and Mason Morris, all of Colonial Beach, VA; several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. The family will be accepting visitors at Adams-Green Funeral Home, 721 Elden St., Herndon, VA 20170 on Friday, July 13, 2012, from 5 to 8 PM. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, July 14, 2012, at 11 AM at Cedar Hill Cemetery, 4111 Pennsylvania Ave., Suitland, MD 20746. Donations can be made in memory of Shirley to the American Diabetes Association.