Loretta “Lorie” Shults, a longtime member of the Offices of Campus Safety and Student Affairs, died July 31 at the age of 65. A resident of Danville, she was known for her warmth and generosity and worked at Kenyon from 1999 to 2019, retiring after nearly 20 years of service.
Born Oct. 22, 1959 in Mount Vernon to Cecil and Janet (Rollyson) McCullough, Shults spent her first eight years at Kenyon as a telecommunications officer for the Office of Campus Safety. Then she joined student affairs as coordinator of campus events scheduling and administrative assistant to the associate dean of students and director of multicultural affairs.
Chris Kennerly, dean for diversity, equity and inclusion, said he has fond memories of working with Shults, whose kindness, creativity and generosity left a lasting impression on those who knew her.
“She had a warm and nurturing rapport with students, and many would stop by the office simply to chat with her or seek her advice on personal and family matters,” he said. “Lorie was thorough and efficient in her administrative work, often anticipating my needs and completing tasks before I even asked.”
Shults also was known as an avid reader who shared her books with others and an exceptional quilter.
“On one memorable occasion, she made several quilts and raffled them off to raise funds for students to purchase books,” said Kennerly, who still treasures a personalized quilt that Shults and her husband, John, worked on together and gave to him as a birthday gift.
Samantha Hughes, senior director of presidential operations, said Shults was incredibly generous and giving, whether it was making curtains for her when she couldn’t find what she wanted in a store or bottle feeding an infant squirrel that had been abandoned by its mother.
“When I think of Lorie Shults, I first think of her laughter and warm smile, followed quickly by her love of family, friends, animals, and sewing,” Hughes said.
Shults — who loved her dogs and also enjoyed history, sewing and crocheting — is survived by her husband, John; three children, Justin Earl Smith, Melissa Smith and Gretchen (Michael) Blanker; brothers Kenneth McCullough and Steven McCullough; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents and grandson Kyle Ayers.
The family will hold a private service at St. Luke Cemetery.