Lloyd O. Shirley, who maintained a practice as a certified public accountant for half a century, died of a stroke Monday at Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care. The Timonium resident was 78.

Mr. Shirley was born and raised in Schenectady, N.Y., and earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Lehigh University in 1948. He moved to Baltimore after becoming a CPA, and two years later established Lloyd O. Shirley CPA, which for many years has been located on Allegheny Avenue in Towson.

Mr. Shirley was a member for many years of University Baptist Church, where he had been a deacon, treasurer and member of the finance committee.

At his death, he was a member of Centre Pointe, a counseling service operated by the Baptist Convention of Maryland-Delaware, and the Jail and Prison Ministry. He was also a member of the Christian Businessmen's Association and Timonium Optimist Club.

Mr. Shirley was interested in church history, and had a large library devoted to the subject. He also maintained an interest in Republican and Democratic politics.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Timonium Presbyterian Church, 303 W. Timonium Road.

Mr. Shirley is survived by his wife of 34 years, the former Patricia A. Wingler; three daughters, Valerie Facchine of Elkton, Linda Wagner of Abingdon and Annette Frazier of Washington; and four grandchildren.