Shirley Arp was born in an old farmhouse on her grandfather’s farm near Probstei in Scott County on Aug. 9, 1931, to Leilla Wulf Arp and Theodore H. Arp.
She attended Blue Grass #6 country school K through 8th grade, bused to J.B. Young Jr. High in Davenport for 9th grade, and graduated a country girl with honors from Davenport High School on June 9, 1949 (hail to the red and blue). She has remained constant in her affection of her classmates and old Davenport High School.
She married the love of her life, Allan A. Arp, on Sept. 16, 1950. He died in April of 2009. They had enjoyed 58 years together. After Al’s death, she resides in the “Village of Greenfields” in Davenport.
While also farming, she enjoyed a great secretarial career with the Davenport Community School District, retiring in 1993 from West High School after 30 years of service.
She is a 72-year active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport. She has served in many official capacities for the American Legion Auxiliary at the county, district and state levels.
She has now reached the wonderful milestone of 90 years of age. Please join her family in honoring her at a reception from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7, at the Walcott Legion Post Home, 121 Bryant St., Walcott, Iowa.
She is the mother of four children: Gregory (Vicky), both deceased, Julie (Regis) Rulifson of Apex, N.C., Brent (Nancy) Arp of Walcott, and Jane Tomesch of Ames. She has seven grandchildren: Nick Rulifson, Kate (Ben) Schreurs, Stephanie (Coy) Claussen, Laura (Tony) Frankowski, Christopher Arp, Dr. Alex (Jenny) Tomesch, and Zach Tomesch. She has nine great-grandchildren, who affectionately call her “Gigi.”
She is very interested in genealogy. She is the granddaughter of Julia (Jens) Wulf and Fred Wulf and Mary (Hein) Arp and Otto D. Arp. If you are a long, lost relative, please come and introduce yourself.
