Shirley K. Stretch Miller

Tiverton, R.I. - Shirley Kling Stretch Miller, 84, of 1215 Main Road, Tiverton, RI, formerly of Little Compton, died Monday, November 8, 2010 at Sakonnet Bay Manor, Tiverton, RI. She was the wife of the late George E. Stretch. Born in Branford, CT on April 13, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Harry and Beula Avery Kling. Mrs. Miller resided in Little Compton for 43 years. Upon moving to Little Compton she wrote articles for the Sakonnet Times. She started her career in hospital personnel in 1970, first at Charlton Memorial in Fall River, MA as Vice President of Human Resources, then at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket and Miriam Hospital in Providence and finally Vice President of Employee Services at Newport Hospital. She served three years as V.P. of Directors at Newport Hospital. Upon retiring from her position at Newport Hospital in 1990, she served as a consultant for Right Associates, an out placement association in Providence. She was a member of the American Society for Hospital Personnel Administration and the Southeastern Massachusetts Personnel Administrators Association. She served on the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Hospital Personnel Directors and the greater Fall River Personnel Counsel. She also served as an active speaker on issues concerning women in management and in industrial relations and had been a moderator and speaker for many seminars and educational programs. Mrs. Miller was a graduate of Larson College in Hamden, CT, and received her associate degree in accounting. She held a degree in Personnel Administration from Bentley College, Waltham, MA and was a graduate of the American Institute of Banking at Yale University. She took graduate courses in wage and salary administration at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and at Bryant College in Smithfield, RI. She was a member of the United Congregational Church in Little Compton, the Sogkonate Garden Club, the PEO and the DAR. She is survived by her daughter Leslie Ann Barker and her husband Stephen of Bristol, RI, her son Joel H. Stretch of Vermontville, NY and her granddaughter Melanie Barker Wolfe and her husband Richard of Bristol, RI.A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, November 20, 2010 at 2pm at Sakonnet Bay Manor, 1215 Main Road, Tiverton, RI. Burial will be private.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Odyssey Hospice, 2374 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886 or to Potter League for Animals, P.O. Box 412, Newport, RI 02840.