Gene V. Gillingham Johnson
Gene Virginia Gillingham Johnson, 94, died May 5, 2020. She was born Sept. 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, Ore., they packed up the family and moved into town, where she worked for a local doctor’s office and hospital as 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 continued to work for the hospital until her retirement and they continued to call her back. She ended up retiring three times from the same place. She was a 50-year member of Order of the 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 and Kimberly (Tracy) Lucero; great-grandchildren, Ashley (Chad) Vines, Racheal (Scott) Tyler, John Dawson III, David Dawson, Sara Cogburn and Dakota Cogburn; and great-great grandchildren, Joshua Sager, Jacob Vines and Lucas Momier. We love her and will miss her dearly. At the age of 94, her life was full and happy. May she 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 yesterday, followed by a burial at the Rock Hills Baptist Cemetery in Flushing, Ohio. Remembrances are to be made in Gene’s name to Shriners Hospital for Children, 1645 W. 8th St, Erie, PA 16505. To share a memory or condolence, visit strifflerfuneralhomes.com.
