Bertha Schronce Gillespie, 93, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008, at National Home Care in Greenville, S.C. Born and raised in Lincoln County, she was the daughter of the late Eunice and William Schronce. She was married for 59 years to Marvin Gillespie, who preceded her in death. Bertha, better known as Bert, was retired after more than 30 years from Burlington Mills. For a short time she worked in the cafeteria at Lowrance Hospital. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Fair View United Methodist Church, and will be conducted by the Rev. Patrick S. Hamrick. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m. Sunday, prior to the service, at the church. In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Gillespie was preceded in death by her sisters, Nellie Laney and Leona Shinn Jones; and brothers, Bill, Ervin, and Houston, who was killed in World War II. Survivors include a son, Thomas Joel (Doris); daughters, Karen Edwards (Paul Giampietro), and Sandra Mills (Tom); sister, Gladys Goodson (Burgin); brother, Herman (Dot), both of Lincolnton; sisters-in-law, Jackie Schronce and Helen Gillespie, both of Mooresville, and Jo Schronce of Maiden; five grandchildren, John T. Mills Jr. (Leslie), Kem Swenson (Mike), and Leigh Magee (Pat), all of Greenville, S.C., Angela Cash (Doug) of Mooresville, and T.J. Gillespie of Forest City; and eight great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Fair View United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 27, Mt. Mourne, NC 28123. Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, is serving the family of Bertha Gillespie. Bertha lived at 191 Mackwood Road for many years and the family would like to thank all of her neighbors for the love and care they gave her. She loved all of them very much.
Published in the Statesville Record & Landmark on 11/8/2008