Shirley Sneed-Oblinger

Shirley Sneed-Oblinger, Lt. Col. USAR, Ret., born February 5,1922, died July 2,2015. Daughter of the late Shirley O'Beirne Sneed and the late Harry P. Sneed, Sr., of New Orleans, LA. Shirley finished Eleanor McMain high school in New Orleans, Alabama College at Montevallo, Alabama, at 19 in 1941, taught high school in Clanton, Alabama, 1941/42. She also taught an after-hours business machines course for the Civil Service. WWII having broken out she and her mother left New Orleans the summer of 1942 for Washington, D.C., where she soon entered civil service in the Pentagon. After including a two year civil service in the Philippines she decided to take a Commission in WAC in 1952 and stayed in Army for 20 years, retiring as a Lt. Colonel in 1972. During her career she received the National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the ARCOM, and Meritorious Service Medal. She lived in a beach house on Anastasia Island, St. Augustine,FL until the mid-eighties, during this time she was an active volunteer at Flagler Hospital. She returned to Bay St. Louis, MS in 1985. In 1987 she became the third wife of Col. Frank D. Oblinger, Jr., USA, Ret. whose three older children, Margret O. Sourbeer, Mary Jean and Don O. Newman and Janice and Frank D. Oblinger III, she adored. Frank promptly took her back to Comanche Cove, St. Augustine, FL. It was much preferred to his native Maine. They made many trips in a motor home, until his death in 2006. True army, he was buried in Arlington Cemetery on the same row as his father and Frank's first wife, Mary McFarland Oblinger. Shirley returned to 501 West Old. Pass Rd, Long Beach, MS in 2008. Due to blindness and her deteriorating health she lived with her brother Harry from 2011 until her death. Shirley was survived by her three step-children named above and her brother, Harry, her niece Beth (Liz) Wethern and husband Mike, and nephews John O'Beirne Sneed, William Sneed, and David Benton Prentiss Sneed and grandnieces Lauren and Merideth Wethern. Shirley received excellent attention from care-givers, especially in her last years, praise the Lord for fine people.The family, her brother in particular, is grateful for the extreme empathy and devotion shown by Dr. Lainie Jorns. The same is said for Gentiva Hospice personnel without exception and in lieu of flowers, support of Gentiva Hospice is requested or one's favorite charity. The graveside service is at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 9, 2015 at Biloxi National Cemetery with honors by the U.S. Army. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com