Gwendolyn Charlotte Gaines
1925 - 2020
Gwendolyn Charlotte Gaines, passed away
October 24, 2020 at Peabody Health and Rehab in Peabody, Kansas at
the age of 95.
Gwen was born in Newton, Kansas at the
Bethel Deaconess Hospital to Ernest C. and Lucy (Robinson) Wilcox on
August 15,1925. She was baptized in the Peabody Methodist Church and
was a faithful lifelong member. She graduated from Peabody High
School in 1944. She played drums in the school band and orchestra.
Gwen enjoyed working for what became Starr Drug Store during her high
school years. Following graduation she worked as secretary for Dr.
Harry Brown, the superintendent of schools and then at Peabody State
Bank until her marriage.
She met the love of her life, Harvey
(Tony) Gaines at a Santa Fe Park summer band concert. He walked her
home carrying her drum. They were together from that time forward.
Gwen and Tony were married on Palm Sunday April 8,1945. She often
laughed as she told the story they originally had planned to marry on
April 1, 1945 but she thought better of marrying such a joker on that
day.
Gwen then became a farm wife where she
helped Tony. She cleaned the separator, drove trucks full of grain
from the fields to the elevator. She liked to cook and bake. The farm
hands never went home hungry. One high school aged farmhand loved her
Lazy Daisy Cake so much she made it for him when he went away to
college. Her grandchildren have wonderful memories relating to the
annual family chicken cleaning times. Her homemade Macaroni and
Cheese was always the first dish emptied at the many family
gatherings. The Peabody Historical Society dinner guests always
enjoyed her renown Cream Puffs for dessert. She was a member of
Eastern Star, United Methodist Women, Athena Club and History Club.
She taught children's Sunday School class for many years.
After Gwen and Tony retired from
farming they moved to Peabody and lived on Walnut Street. They loved
their house in town. Together they would sit on the front porch and
watch the vehicles traveling up and down the street. Their house was
on everyone's list for great trick or treat bags. The bags were
filled with candy and handmade popcorn balls. Another joy was having
the high school band march to the house during practice and play a
tune or two for them. Of course, the band was always rewarded with
refreshments. Their front lawn was a meeting place for family and
friends for the annual Fourth of July and Homecoming parades.
For many years Gwen was the docent for
the Peabody Historical Museum. During the summer months, she greeted
many visitors to the museum. During the school years when the museum
was closed, she happily gave tours to the many grade school classes
that visited the museum. She loved sharing the history of Peabody
with the children. Gwen's interview regarding the Prisoner of War
Camp in Peabody with author Lowell May was included in his book about
the German Prisoner of War Camp in Concordia. She was also included
in the The Women of Peabody published by the Peabody Historical
Society.
Gwen is survived by her daughter Marcia
and her husband Larry Cooper, Manhattan; son David and wife Cindi
Gaines, Peabody; grandchildren Toni (Steve) Boals, Overland Park;
Tracy (Mike) Jackson, Mission Hills; Jennafer Gaines-Sevart, Peabody;
Jason Gaines, Tampa, FL; Ryan (Tiana) Gaines, Peabody;
great-grandchildren: Zach (Bailey) Boals, West Des Moines, IA;
Mitchell Boals, Towson, MD; Madeline Boals, Overland Park; Grace
Adams, Seattle WA, Laura Adams, Chicago, IL, Ariel (Zach) Burson,
Newton, Josh Sevart, ElDorado; Joey Hasting (Chloe), Emporia; Abby
Biddle, Wichita; Lukas Gaines, Tampa, FL; Kasey Gaines, Tampa, FL; Bo
Gaines, Peabody; and Bristol Gaines, Peabody.
Great-Great-Granddaughters Taylor Burson, Newton and Addison Boals,
West Des Moines expected in March 2021.
Her husband of 72 years Harvey (Tony)
Gaines preceded her in death on April 10, 2016. She was also preceded
in death by her parents and brother Harold Wilcox and his wife
Eleanor.
Memorial services and inurnment will be
held at a later date to be announced.
1925 - 2020 (95 years)