Dr. Shirley B. Fletcher Ph.D.

Dr. Shirley B. Fletcher, Ph.D., formerly of Florida, died Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at the Mountain Valley Manor, Kingston. She was 88. A Kingston native, she was born on February 3, 1921 a daughter of the late Morris and Goldie Kline Berman. A lifelong Kingston resident, she married Morris Joseph Fletcher on June 21, 1944. Dr. Fletcher had a successful career in nursing, followed by nursing education. A Kingston High School graduate, she received a B.A. from Goucher College, an R.N. and M.S.N. from Yale University, and M.S. and Ph.D. from N.Y.U. In her early career she was a Registered Nurse at Kingston Hospital. Dr. Fletcher established the first licensed practical nurse program in this area under the auspices of the Kingston City School District. In 1972 Dr. Fletcher became an Associate Professor of Nursing at Ulster County Community College. She retired in 1985. She was a member of Congregation Agudas Achim, Kingston and a lifelong member of Hadassah. Dr. Fletcher moved to Florida in early 1980's and recently returned to Kingston. Her husband, Dr. Morris J. Fletcher, DDS died May 6, 2006. One sister Dorothy Sumber died previously. Surviving are one daughter Pamela Dixon and her husband Thomas of West Palm Beach, Florida and their sons Robert and Michael Dixon of Key West, Florida; two sons Dr. David M. Fletcher and his wife Brenda of Kingston and their sons Jason and Alex Fletcher of New York City; Dr. Robert Fletcher and his wife Diane of West Hurley and their children Joli and Joshua of Kingston and Zachary of South Lake Tahoe, CA; one sister Beverly Gladys Bassin of Madison, Wisconsin; one brother in law, Dr. Jerry Sumber of Kingston; several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday at 12:00 at Simpson - Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Ave. Interment will follow in Montrepose Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice Foundation, 34 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401 or Congregation Agudas Achim, P.O. Box 3573, Kingston, NY 12401. Shiva will be observed at the residence of David Fletcher from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon.