Dr. Sheila Marie Foor

Dr. Sheila Marie Foor, 76, of Hockessin, Delaware, formerly of Westerville, OH and Shelbyville, IL, passed away on September 27, 2025, at Christiana Hospital.

She was a 1966 graduate of Shelbyville High School in IL and earned her BS and MS degrees in English from Eastern Illinois University in 1977 and 1978. She then earned her PhD degree from The Ohio State University at Columbus, OH in 1985 in English literature.

Sheila had a variety of secretary jobs at Eastern Illinois University (History, English Philosophy department) and the University of Illinois (Krannert Center for the Performing Arts), to support her family while her husband completed his degrees. When she went back to graduate school she taught the introductory writing course at The Ohio State. After moving to Delaware, Sheila became a tenured professor at Lincoln University in PA where she coordinated the English Education Program. She also taught writing and the novel.

Sheila founded and was the original “Queen Mother” of the Red Hats Society chapter in Hockessin. It is still active with 20+ members. She was an avid contributor to several shelters, including Sojourners Place in Wilmington, providing them with clothes for their residents. She also bought gifts for residence’s kids, so they had something to wrap and give to their children and grandchildren at Christmas time. She will be missed. She was also active in the Hockessin Methodist Church clothes closet. She was an avid gardener, adding new garden beds to the lawn year after year.

Sheila is preceded in death by her son, Chad Foor, her mother and father, Shirley Bunch and Ernest Reitzel, and her brother, Scott Young.

She is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, Dr. Stephen Foor, her daughter Shannon George and son-in-law, Christopher George, and grandchildren Leighton and Chase George of Hockessin DE. She is additionally survived by her daughter in law, Lynn Foor, and grandchildren Erin and Megan Foor of Columbia, MD. Sheila also leaves behind her sisters, Cyn Franz of Maryville, IL, and Debby Shasteen (Jerry) of Shelbyville, IL, her brother, Bill Reitzel (Marilyn) of Morton, IL and brother-in-law, Charles Foor of Tower Hill, IL as well as an abundance of nieces nephews and grands in Illinois and Missouri. Those who had the honor of knowing Sheila will greatly miss her.

Interment of her ashes will be at Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville, IL, on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at 10:30 AM followed by a celebration of life for family and friends at the Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center. Graveside arrangements are by Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL.