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Share thisAlumni Notes | November 2020
Victoria Wilcox Blatt ’13 (Social Work) and her husband, Kevin, welcomed Clara to their family in August of 2020. Clara joins siblings Eleanor and Winston. Congratulations!
Florence Hutt Ford ’65 passed away at age 77 on October 12, 2020. She is predeceased by her husband Arnold, her son Andy, her parents Rebecca & Kenneth Hutt and her brother Loyst Hutt. Florence is survived by her daughter Valerie (Dennis DeVito).
Florence attended Roberts Wesleyan College in North Chili and served in a number of positions after she had raised her family. She cherished the time she spent with her coworkers at Natapow in Rochester and eventually retired from there. Florence was active in the women's bible study group at her church, Open Door Baptist in Churchville and looked forward to sitting in the same pew with her girlfriends every week for the Sunday service.
Florence loved to spend time in the kitchen cooking and baking for her family. She would have a garden for fresh vegetables and to can for the winter months. She was a green thumb taking care of her beautiful flower gardens in the summer time. She also loved to have her little flock of chickens and wake up to the rooster's crow. Florence collected the eggs daily and enjoyed giving them away.
Tina Cenname ’09 (Nursing) and ’11 (Master of Nursing Administration) helped Andrew Hazell ’23 (History) complete his First Year Seminar service project. Andrew provided memory aids to the Memory Care Unit at Cherry Ridge St. Ann’s. Thank you to both Tina and Andrew for their service to others.
John G. Gilmore ’47, age 92, of Greenville, passed away at 9:35 p.m. Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland, Illinois.
John Gibson Gilmore Jr., the son, of John Gibson Gilmore Sr. and Rosetta May Rosie Gilmore, was born on December 21, 1927 in North Tonawanda, New York. John was raised there and graduated from Tonawanda High School in 1945. John attended Roberts Wesleyan College for two years, then graduated from Greenville College in 1949. He received his master of divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1952. John and his wife pastored the Fredonia and then the Belfast Free Methodist Church in New York until 1955. They moved to Costa Rica to attend the Costa Rica Language School for one year. They moved to the Dominican Republic as missionaries until 1970. He served as pastor of South Flores Free Methodist Church for two years in San Antonio, Texas. John and family moved to Warsaw, Indiana in 1974 where he served as Area Administrative Assistant to Latin America, Director of VISA and Director of Personnel for Africa, Asia and Latin America until 1996. John was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Roberts Wesleyan University in 1984. Upon retirement the family moved to Greenville in 1997.
John and Alene Bradshaw White were united in marriage on January 12, 1951 in Louisville, Kentucky and enjoyed over 59 years together before her death on November 2, 2010. They are the parents of five children who survive: Rebecca Crawford and husband Rev. Dr. Steven Crawford of Greenville, Rev. Philip Gilmore and wife Debra of Madrid, Spain, Joanna Gilmore of Greenville, Suzanna Shipley and husband Daniel of Black Diamond, Washington and Rev. J. Marcos Gilmore of Greenville. John is survived by 12 grandchildren: Megan, Tabitha, Christiana, Julianne, Bethany, Jessica, Kathryn, David, Isaac, Michael, Mark and Erin, 9 great grandchildren: Izu, Eliana, Matthew, Ezra, Kristin, Ezekiel, Rui, Mireya and Soren, his sister Esther Ruckle and husband Homer and brother-in-laws Court White, Hal Copley and sister-in-law Barbara Gilmore.
John was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Alene, sister Ruth Copley, sister Doris Chapman, and brother David Gilmore.
John was a member of the Genesis Free Methodist Conference in western New York.
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Rev. Dr. John G. Gilmore, please visit our Tribute Store.
Donald G. Hill ’56 (Physics), 86, of Montoursville passed peacefully at his home on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020. He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Janet M. (Hedman) Hill, on April 18, 2015.
Born Sept. 22, 1934 in Saranac, N.Y., he was a son of the late Foster C. and Eulala Marie (Brown) Hill.
Don was a high school graduate and received his bachelors of science in engineering from Roberts Wesleyan College. He served his country proudly in the United States Air Force. Don retired from High Plains Baptist Hospital, Amarillo, Texas, as a manager in clinical engineering.
Don was a member of the GAP Fellowship Church and the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors. He enjoyed fishing, biking and spending time with family.
Surviving are his two sons, Paul Hill (Beverly), of Georgetown, Ky., and Peter Hill (Linda), of Smithton, Ill.; a daughter, Susanne Covert (William), of Williamsport; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and a brother, James Hill (Cheryl), of Lexington, Ky.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his twin brother, Ronald Hill.
Margaret Barnes Khoury ’59, 85 of Lakeland, Florida and formerly from North Syracuse, New York left us to be with the Lord on March 17, 2020 surrounded by her children.
Margaret was born in Ira, NY on January 21, 1935 to Harvey Barnes and Margaret Fulton Barnes. She and her 9 siblings grew up in Syracuse, NY before Margaret moved to South Carolina to attend Bob Jones University where she met her future husband Hani Wadi Khoury. After moving back to Upstate NY, they were married and started their family. Hani received a Master’s degree in Divinity and became a United Methodist Minister, while Margaret took on the role or Minister’s wife and a very active mother.
After raising her family, Margaret returned to school and graduated top in her class with a degree as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She then had a career in critical home care tending to patients with special needs. She retired in 1998 to spend time between their homes in New York and Florida.
Margaret is preceded in death by her husband the Reverend Hani W. Khoury, four sisters (Christine, Betty, Leona and Barbara), and three brothers (Robert, Douglas and Jack).
She is survived by one daughter: Marie (Michael) Polifrone, of Hewlett, NY, and three sons: Wadi Khoury of Lakeland, FL, Peter Khoury of High Springs, FL, and John Khoury of Bonita Springs, FL. Margaret is also survived by six grandchildren, one great-grandchild and a multitude of cousins, nieces and nephews. Her younger brother (David Barnes of Walnut, CA) and younger sister (Susan Foster of Council, ID) are also mourning this loss.
Chelsea Sullivan Kinard ’18 (Health Administration) passed away unexpectedly on September 26, 2020. Chelsea most recently worked at Rochester Regional Health at a Health Home Care Management Clinical Supervisor.
Ruth Jordan Leonard ’47, 90, of Heritage Village Campus in Gerry went home to her heavenly reward on Friday, June 19, 2020.
Wife of 72 years to the Rev. Richard C. Leonard; mother of Linda (Donald) Waltermier, Rachael (Robert) Ratliff, Martha (Randy) Phillips, Nancy (Charlie) Appel and Jean (Randy) Krull; grandmother of 14; great-grandmother of 19.
Crystal Sessoms-Wiggins ’11 (Childhood & Special Ed.) and ’12 (Master of Education) was married, July 28, 2020, to her husband John Wiggins II. Crystal and John welcomed their son, Israel Mekhi Wiggins, on August 13, 2020. Crystal is entering her third year as Principal of JV Forrestal Elementary School in Beacon, NY and will also be beginning her Doctoral program in Leadership and Innovation at NYU Steinhardt School in January 2021.
Last year, Crystal founded an organization, SistorLink, where they focus on mentoring and leadership development for girls and young women of color living in and/or going to school in underserved communities.
Peter Shaw ’95 (Communication) passed away on Friday, January 3, 2020 at age 57. Predeceased by his parents, Loda and Beatrice Shaw and a brother, Alfred Shaw. Peter is survived by his wife: Christine Shaw; daughters: Rebeca (Kenneth) Pinckney, Leah Shaw, Naomi Shaw; his siblings: Joseph Shaw, Loda Shaw, James Shaw, Casper Shaw, Ida Shaw and his aunts: Lorraine Bowser, Dolores Brewster. Peter was a good man, well known for his work in the community and church.
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