Gwen Ware Shenk, 63, born Oct. 15, 1947, a native of Mobile and a resident of Foley, died Monday, Nov. 22, in Foley.

She graduated with a Bachelors Degree in English from Huntingdon College. During her lifetime she served as Brownie Troop Leader, Girl Scout Leader, Service Unit Leader, and briefly as the Baldwin County Service Unit Director of the Girl Scouts of America.

She was a “Yellow Dog Democrat,” and worked on the 1988 Democratic Convention in Atlanta as host and committee chairman. She was a member and past president of the Foley Women’s Club.

She was a lifelong Episcopalian and past president of St. Paul’s Episcopal Women’s Club of Foley and an active member in St. Paul’s Altar Guild.

She loved country music, with her favorite artists being the Eagles and Jimmy Buffett.  Her family and friends considered her to be a gourmet cook.

Survivors include her husband of 34 years, Richard “Dick” Shenk; son, Lt. Col. T. Ray (Kimberly) Shenk; two daughters, Amanda Shenk and Teresa (Patrick) Hayes; her parents, Tom and Edith Ware; one granddaughter, Alexandra; expected grandson, Aiden; a host of other family and friends.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Foley.

The family requests memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society, 19059 Greeno Road Suite A, Fairhope, AL 36532.

The family strongly encourages all females to get an annual mammogram and pap smear.

Arrangements are by Mack Funeral Home & Crematory Inc., Robertsdale.

Gulf Coast News Today -  Posted: Wednesday, November 24, 2010