Virginia Beach ~ Dr. David L. Shores, Professor Emeritus of English at Old Dominion University for over 30 years, passed away on March 23, 2025. 

Dr. Shores dedicated his career to the study and teaching of English, focusing primarily on Old and Middle English Language and Literature, English Linguistics, and American English Dialects.  He is the author of A Descriptive Syntax of the Peterborough Chronicle, coeditor of Papers in Language Variation, editor of Contemporary English, and author of Tangier Island: People, Place, and Talk. He was educated at Randolph-Macon College, Peabody College, and Vanderbilt University.

Born on Tangier Island, Virginia, on January 28, 1933, Dr. Shores grew up in Urbana, Virginia.  

Dr. Shores is survived by his wife of 35 years, Garnett, his brother, Dr. Richard Shores, his sister, Diane Ruark, six children, fourteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was the loving husband of his late wife, Betty Shores, with whom he shared 32 years of marriage until her passing in 1988. 

A memorial service will be held on April 10, 2025, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church located at 5181 Singleton Way in Virginia Beach at 1:00. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in David’s honor to The Betty L. Shores Memorial Scholarship at Tidewater Community College. They are located at Tidewater Community College Educational Foundation, 121 College Place, Suite 622, Norfolk VA 23510.  If you would like to make a donation online, visit www.tcc.edu/about-tcc/educational-foundation/support-tcc-students/ and designate the funds to go to The Betty L. Shores Memorial Scholarship. Contributions can also be directed to a charity of your choice.

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