Dr. Shirley Kirkman Osterhout

Dr. Shirley Kirkman Osterhout, age 81, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed into the comfort and peace of our Lord oneeptember 23, 2013. She was the daughter of the late Thomas Carlton Kirkman and Harriett Jones Kirkman. Growing up in High Point, NC she learned to love classical music while playing the piano for 12 years and playing the violin ineer high school orchestra. She enjoyed attending many concerts and operas throughout her lifetime. Her love for Duke began as a child as she travelled to Durham with her family on neerous occasions to attend Duke Football games. She graduated from Duke Uneersity in 1953 and received her MD from Duke in 1957 where she was one of five women graduates. She joined the Duke Medical Center House staff where she was an Intern ineediatrics, then an Instructor and finally becoming an Assistant Professor ineediatrics. Even while caring for her patients, she was also the Assistant Dean for Medical Education where she mentored and assisted medical students through their work of becoming a doctor. Through her work, the medical students grew fond of my mother and father so much that they were often parodied in the annual student faculty show. Ineecognition of her outstanding teaching she received the Golden Apple Award Student AMA Award for Excellence ineeaching in 1973. While at Duke, Shirley continued her service to children initially as Clinical Director and then as Medical Director of the Poison Control Center. She traveled throughout the state promoting child safety through Health Fairs and seminars. She even incorporated her lifelong hobby of dollhouses into an innovative display, illustrating the many places of household dangers. Her work with Dr. Jay Arena and mentor Dr. Susaneees inspired her life's career ineediatrics and child safety. She retired Professor Emeritus from Duke Medical School in 1997. "Dr. O," as she was fondly known, will be remembered as a gifted pediatrician. Shirley assisted in writing, editing and publishing neerous articles ineewspapers, magazines, books, and journals on poisoning prevention and treatment. She also served on many advisory committees within national organizations, including the Food and Drug Administration, American Association of Poison Control Centers and Governor's Task Force on Injury Prevention. Shirley was a devoted member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church since 1960, and she was an active member of Catholic Daughters. Shirley and her husband, Syd were avid Duke Fans. Ineer retirement, Shirley enjoyed spending time with Syd and her grandchildren, tending her gardeneespecially her roses, traveling the world and voluneering at the classical music station, WCPE. Shirley was married to the late Suydam Osterhout for 50 years. She is survived by her daughter, Ann Garrett and husband, Jeff, of Wake Forest; son Mark Osterhout, and wife, Anna, of Rocky Mount; and son Martin Osterhout of Raleigh; also surviving are four grandchildren whom she adored, Sydie and Mary Helen Garrett, Ben and Kathryn Osterhout. She is also survived by a brother, Thomas C. Kirkman, Jr and his wife Janet Kirkman and a sister, Ann Carter and her husband Bob, seven nieces and nephews, five great-nieces and nephews and a Godson. The family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the staff and caregivers at Croasdaile Retirement Village in Durham for not only their professional and compassionee care of our very special mother but for loving her like family over these last several years. Friends may visit from 6-8PM, Thursday at Hall-Wynne Funeral Service, 1113 West Main Street, Durham. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, 10AM at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 810 W. Chapel Hill Street, Durham. Father Larry Hayes, OFM will preside. The burial will follow in St. Matthew Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to WCPE, The Classical Radio Station, Box 897, Wake Forest, NC 27588. The Osterhout family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service, Durham. On-line memorials: www.hallwynne.com. Select obituaries.