Obituary - SHEILA M. CONLEY

Sheila M. Conley, of Oakmont, passed away on Wednesday, April 9, 2014, at the age of 83.

Sheila was preceded in death by two sisters and two brothers; survived by many loving nieces, nephews and friends.

Sheila was a 20-year veteran of the Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service).  She attained the rank of Senior Chief as a radioman with duty stations across the U.S. and abroad.  Notably, she was the first female graduate of Radioman “B” School at the Naval Training Center.  She served on the Allegheny County Veterans Advisory Board and the Board of Managers for the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, and was a founding member of Three Rivers Unit 28 of WAVES National.  Sheila played a pivotal role in planning and fundraising for the World War II Memorial in Pittsburgh, including coordinating publication of five years of calendars featuring local WWII veterans. 

A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a master’s degree in counseling psychology, she was active in civic and political affairs for decades, including service as a Democratic committeewoman in Point Breeze and as an advocate for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment.  

Aunt Sheila generously shared her wisdom, time, resources, and love with her family, and worked tirelessly to honor our area’s veterans. 

There is a military interment at the VA National Cemetery of the Alleghenies on Friday, May 23, 2014 at 1:30am. 

Donations in lieu of flowers to:  WWII Veterans of Southwestern PA, P.O. Box 23143, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-6143.

Arrangements were entrusted to the English Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc.

Online condolences may be made to: english-funeral-home.com