Shirley Ruth (Maisenbacher) Gunter was born to Edward Joseph & Rhea Agusta (Hopkins) Maisenbacher on July 29, 1927, in Springfield, Illinois.

She passed away from this life on October 8, 2026, in Canyon Lake, Texas at the age of 99.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Daniel McKay Gunter; son, Charles Edward and 8 brothers & sisters.

She is survived by her children, David Gunter of Canyon Lake, Billy Gunter of San Antonio and Tammy Sanclemente (Mauricio) of Helotes; grandchildren, Jenny Randall (Tim), Ryan Gunter (Alexs), Lee Gunter (Stephanie), Daniel Gunter (Bailey), Emily Moore (Adam) and Carley Gunter (Mason); great-grandchildren, Avery, James & Zoey and great great-grandchild, Brazos.

Shirley was the seventh born of nine children. She left Springfield, IL at the age of 21 and moved to the DC area to join a childhood friend whom she lived with until she met her future husband, Daniel (Dan) at a dance in 1948. Dan was transferred to the Panama Canal Zone and asked Shirley to join him in Panama, and they married in 1950. They had two children, Charles Edward in 1951 and David Lee in 1953. The family was then stationed to Ft. Benning, GA. They were then stationed to Wiesbaden, Germany for a few years. The time she spent there was her favorite of all the places where they were stationed. Pregnant with her third child, William Howard, they were then stationed to Ft. Leonard Wood, MO where he was born in 1958. Shirley gave birth to her final child, Tammy Lynn, in 1962. The family was then stationed in Ft. Bragg, NC. While there, Dan received orders to be stationed in Iran and Shirley moved back to Springfield, IL with her children in 1963. In 1964, the family reunited in San Antonio, TX.

In 1965 Shirley started working for W. H. Mullins, a civil engineering firm until 1992. At the age of 65, Shirley retired and realized her dream, a custom log home at Canyon Lake, TX, where they moved in 1990. Dan and Shirley enjoyed playing horseshoes with old and new friends on the pits they built on their property. Shirley joined a Gardening Club. She built a large garden and grew tomatoes, jalapenos, bell peppers, and cantaloupes. She joined a Line Dancing Club where they performed at the Community Resource and Recreation Center during Christmas. She joined the Fischer Bowling Club. Shirley had been a league bowler in San Antonio for many years. She helped run Saturday bowling for several years at Fischer. She bowled every Saturday until 92.

Shirley was a wonderful cook and famous for her spaghetti. She loved being in the kitchen all day cooking for her family at Thanksgiving and Christmas and making multiple desserts that were her children and grandchildren's favorites. She had a wonderful sense of humor and always enjoyed a good laugh. She was a huge Spurs and Cowboys fan and rooted for her teams with great enthusiasm. Shirley will be remembered as a kind and caring person whose family was always the most important thing in her life.

A Visitation will be held from 11:00 AM until 12:00 PM (Noon) when a Funeral Service will begin at 12:00 PM on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at Doeppenschmidt Funeral Home in Canyon Lake, Texas. A procession will follow leaving at 1:00 PM enroute to Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery for a 2:00 PM Graveside Service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: The American Cancer Society

Please sign the guestbook at www.doeppenschmidtfuneralhome.com