Julia Karen Shreve, 60, daughter of William Robert Shreve and Patricia Lou Somerville Shreve, died on May 21, 2010, from metastasized breast cancer disease. She was born in Charleston, W.Va., on September 26, 1949. She was a member of B’nai Jacob Synagogue.
Ms. Shreve was preceded in death by her father, William Robert Shreve; her sister, Barbara Lynn Shreve Roberts; and her father and mother-in-law, Bernard and Estelle Kasanof Gottlieb. She was also preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Harvey McKinley and Emma Bridget Bean Shreve, a great Irish Lady.
She is survived by her beloved husband, Richard Lee Gottlieb; her wonderful children, daughter, Emily Kathryn Dawson of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and stepson, Max Carter Gottlieb of Charleston. She is also survived by her mother, Patricia Lou Somerville Shreve of Huntington; and sisters, Patricia Kay Shreve Herndon and Melinda Jean Shreve Patrick, both of Huntington; and Melissa Joy Shreve Boone and her husband Scott Boone of Houston, Texas, who both provided special care to Ms. Shreve during her illness at home and her many trips to M.D. Anderson.
There are friends too many to name, especially at the most wonderful place to work as a lawyer, Jackson Kelly PLLC. Ms. Shreve must mention Ms. Amber Hoback, Mr. Michael T. Cimino, Ms. Leanna Colston, Ms. Mary Rich Maloy (former employee), and the greatest secretary ever, Ms. Rita Lynn Hayes.
Ms. Shreve was a member of the law firm Jackson Kelly PLLC, where she practiced in the area of occupational safety and health. She served as a trustee of the Energy and Mineral Law Foundation (EMLF) and was a former Membership Chairman of EMLF. She was a past President of the West Virginia University Parents Club, Kanawha County Chapter; and served on the Board of Directors of the Greater Charleston YMCA. She served on the Strategic Planning Committee for the YMCA. In 2009, she was awarded the honor of “2010 Best Lawyers in America.” Before entering the practice of law, Ms. Shreve was a teacher for Kanawha County Schools and later a curriculum supervisor for the Title I Reading Program. She served Kanawha County Schools as a teacher, reading specialist, and supervisor from 1971 until 1989. She also taught in the Developmental Skills Department of West Virginia State College, now West Virginia State University. Ms. Shreve earned her B.A. degree (1971) and Master’s of Arts degree (1977) from Marshall University. She is a 1992 graduate of the Ohio State University School of Law.
A Memorial Service at the Temple Israel was held on May 25, presented by Rabbi James Cohn with Rabbi Victor Urecki. In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations to the Nellie B. Connally Breast Cancer Center at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Breast Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77030 or to the Hubbard Hospice House, 1606 Kanawha Boulevard, West, Charleston, WV 25312.
Ms. Shreve donated her body to the West Virginia University Medical School for research and cremation. Her ashes will be buried at the Jewish Cemetery in South Charleston.