Shirley Ann Hudak, devout Catholic

Shirley Ann Hudak, 85, of Rehoboth Beach, passed away peacefully Saturday, April 27, 2024. Shirley, along with her twin brother “Bud,” was born June 20, 1938, to Alton and Beatrice (Finks) Atchison in Alexandria, Va.

Shirley graduated from McLean High School in 1958, where she went on to work for the U.S. Navy as a civilian at the Navy Annex. She then transferred to the U.S. Air Force, spending almost 20 years at the Pentagon contributing to our nation's history during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, and the first Apollo missions to the Moon. While at the Pentagon, Shirley met her husband, Milan Hudak, and they were married in 1973. After the Pentagon, Shirley and Milan both worked for the U.S. Government Accountability Office in Washington, D.C., before she retired in 1993 after 37 years as a federal government employee. In 2002, after 29 years of marriage, Milan passed away, and Shirley moved to Rehoboth Beach in 2003.

For the next two decades, Shirley enjoyed making many new friends, as well as hosting family and being Grandma. She also liked to play shuffleboard, travel, craft, and volunteer. Shirley became a member of many service and social organizations, including the VFW, American Legion, Elks Lodge, and Red Hat Society, holding leadership positions on the state and national levels. Shirley was a devout Catholic, serving as a Eucharistic Minister for decades, and was a parishioner at St. Edmond Church.

Shirley was predeceased by her husband, Milan; her granddaughter, Hope; her twin brother, Alton “Bud”; and brothers, Bobby, Roger and Leroy. She leaves behind many family members and friends, and will be dearly missed by all those who knew and loved her.

Services will be held privately when she is interred alongside her husband in Arlington National Cemetery at a future date.

Visit Shirley’s Life Memorial webpage at parsellfuneralhomes.com.