Gene V. Gillingham Johnson, age 94, died May 5, 2020. Born September 19, 1925 in the mountains of West Virginia in the town of Minnehaha Springs and is the daughter of the late Dwoit and Margaret Sharp Wright.
Her parents soon moved to Flushing, Ohio where she graduated high school and married her high school sweetheart and first husband of 59 years, the late Weldon Gillingham.
Gene was deputized and matron of the county jail where her husband was the elected deputy sheriff. Her job included cooking for all the prisoners and if there were any female inmates, she was responsible for their care. After the birth of her children; Marsha Dawson of White Oak and Roger (Carol) Gillingham of LA Pine Oregon they packed up the family and moved in to town, where she worked for a local doctor’s office and hospital where she was their receptionist.
At the age of 40 she decided to go to college and get her certification to manage the medical records department and passed her boards with flying colors. Gene continue to work for the hospital up until her retirement and they continued to call her back and ended up retiring three times from the same place.
She was a 50-year member of Eastern Star participating in all aspects of the lodge.
Gene is survived by her children Marsha and Roger, grandchildren John(Nancy) Dawson Jr., Fawn Tyler, Adrian (Eugene) Berkoben, Philip (Susana) Dawson, Kimberly (Tracy) Lucero, great grandchildren; Ashley (Chad) Vines, Racheal (Scott) Tyler, John Dawson III, David Dawson, Sara Cogburn, Dakota Cogburn, great-great grandchildren; Joshua Sager, Jacob Vines, Lucas Momier.
We love her and will miss her dearly. At age 94 her life was full and happy. May see rest in peace in the arms of her savior.
A family gathering at Strifflers of White Oak Cremation and Mortuary Services, 1100 Lincoln Way, White Oak, PA 15131 (412-678-6177) was held Friday, May 8, 2020 followed by a burial at the Rock Hills Baptist Cemetery in Flushing, Ohio. Remembrances are to be made in Genes name to Shriners Hospital for Children 1645 W 8th St, Erie, PA 16505. To share a memory or condolence, visit strifflerfuneralhomes.com
Click this link to view the video of Gene's funeral services:
https://my.gather.app/remember/gene%20v.-gillingham%20johnson