Shirley Jean “Suzy” Finger Rardin Dobbs, 91, of Grimes, Iowa, passed away May 13, 2024 at UnityPoint Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 20, 2024 at Prairie Creek Church, 801 W. 1st Street in Grimes. Cremation rites have been accorded and private burial will be at Grand Junction Cemetery, Grand Junction, Iowa.
Shirley was born February 9, 1933 in her grandparents Teeters spare bedroom in Grand Junction, Iowa. Her parents were Burton LeRoy Finger and Hazel Claire (Teeters) Finger. In her early years, Shirley spent many hours in her grandpa Teeters shoe repair shop making things from the scraps of leather grandpa saved for her to play with. Her Grandparents Finger lived on a farm and she always enjoyed her visits there.
Through the years she had several pet dogs. A red Irish Setter, Peggy, was hers in high school. Later she had two Pugs, Toby and Buddy and in more recent years she had Lulu and later Dolly, both Boston Terriers.
Besides liking to bake for the church events, she was a good cook and was often requested to bring baked beans to a church event. At one time she had a large frog collection and later it was lambs. She also collected many cookbooks, books and magazines which she enjoyed reading.
As a teenager she worked in a café on main street of Grand Junction. Often staying after her shift to babysit the owner’s children. Other families she babysat for sometimes took her on their vacations to watch the kids. She learned to waterski with one family. After graduation, she was a telephone operator in Boone, Iowa. She married Francis Rardin and lived in Boone for more than 25 years. She and Larry Dobbs married in 1969 and Shirley found out there was a big world outside of Boone. Larry was a telephone lineman and they moved often during their years together. When they lived in Valdosta, Georgia, she worked in a 7-11 Store and then a Sambo Restaurant where she became manager. This is when she adopted the name “Suzy” which remained with her.
Suzy made friends easily and when she made the decision to move back to Iowa to be near her aging parents and other family members, she brought her mobile home with her. However, she made it in better condition than the trailer as the trailer was damaged from hitting its sides on a bridge. So life in Iowa started by having to purchase a different trailer and that was the beginning of her many years in Grimes. Again, she worked in a convenience store, which was robbed while she was on duty. Later she worked many years at Target in Des Moines.
Suzy joined the Grimes United Methodist Church (now Prairie Creek Church) on April 25, 1999. She was a faithful member, ready to help when needed, until her health interfered. But her church family found a special chair for her and a special spot for her to sit during church services. She also enjoyed being a volunteer for Food Pantry. Later she attended senior meals, meeting new friends. Nearing the end of her 80’s, she was prone to fall easily because she had both knees replaced and a steel plate and screws in her ankle. She used her Life Alert often and the volunteers who answered would say “are you hurt Mrs. Dobbs?” and most likely she would say “no, just embarrassed and my pride” and they would lift her up back on her feet. Her last fall resulted in a spiral break above her knee and the beginning of Adel Acres becoming her home away from home.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by sister, Maralynn (Myron) Rinker of Rippey, Iowa and Diane (William) Johnston of Bloomington, Illinois; her nephew, Marke (Jenny) Rinker of West Des Moines, Iowa; her niece, Marilee (Steve) White; a great niece, Jodi Christina “JC” White all of Centennial, Colorado as well as other relatives and many friends.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Prairie Creek Church or the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.
Online condolences are welcome at www.IlesCares.com.
Arrangements by Iles Westover Chapel.
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