Donald Shirer, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Donald Shirer
DONALD SHIRER FAMILY
Donald Leroy (5/10/31) and Karen Kent (5/18/35) Shirer moved to Valparaiso in August 1957 as bride and groom, coming from Columbus, Ohio. We lived upstairs at 605 N. College in the home owned by Mrs. Maude Fillwock. Our first home, 1309 Fairlane Avenue, was built in 1959 and we moved there with a new baby, Erin Scott (5/20/59). Two other sons were soon added -- Lee Austin (5/26/60) and Kevin Kent (10/18/62). We moved in 1967 to the home designed and built by L. Oliver Graebner, former V.U. psychology department chairman, at 23 Martinal Road.
Donald, who is professor of physics at Valparaiso University, has also worked for Argonne National Laboratory (Z G S project) and for the University of Illinois (educational consultant to PLATO computer project). He has been active in Community Theatre Guild: designed the light control board for the Porter County Memorial Opera House, directed the Guild's first musical, "Once Upon a Mattress," acted in several productions and is author of "Looking Glass Land," a musical based upon Lewis Carroll.
Karen, who has served as organist for Faith Lutheran Church and choir director of First United Methodist, Valparaiso, is a professional musician and teacher. Music is one of the favorite hobbies of the entire family. The boys have been active in drama productions, music groups, a bicycle repair shop and tennis.
Source: American Revolution Bicentennial Committee of Porter County. 1976. A Biographical History of Porter County, Indiana. Valparaiso, Indiana: American Revolution Bicentennial Committee of Porter County, Inc. 180 p.
Page(s) in Source: 158-159
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook