UNION, WV --- Our beloved Mother, Teacher, Friend, Genevieve Myrtle Sowards Gillen passed on Saturday, September 16, 2017.
She was born August 2, 1929 in Burma; where her parents, the late, Erville Ellis Sowards and Genevieve Elizabeth Sharp Sowards, were both Baptist Missionaries.
Genevieve taught for fifty years, most of which were in Miami-Dade County Florida. She taught English and Debate, and took her debate teams to Nationals several times. She loved teaching and she loved her students. She was in the first group of teachers to receive National Teacher Board Certification, and was recognized for this success in the White House. She received numerous awards: National Speech Coach, Three Fulbright Scholarships (India, England, Pakistan), Four National Endowment for the Humanities grants in literature, and Teacher of the Year. It always touched her when students reached out to her years after she taught them to tell her what an influence she had been in their lives.
Genevieve loved to travel and has spent time in England, Burma, Thailand, Bangladesh, Spain, India, Russia, Scotland, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, etc.
For retirement Genevieve returned to West Virginia, the home of her father and his family. She enjoyed all types of art; painting, paper-making, sculpture, and photography. She is a member of Greenbrier Artists, the West Virginia Watercolor Society, and the Monroe County Fine Artists.
She is survived by her brother Neil Sowards (Diana) of Fort Wayne Indiana, her children: Grant and Renee Gillen of West Palm Beach Florida, Laura and Mike Miller of McDonough Georgia, Layton Gillen of Marysville Ohio, and Glen and Katharina Gillen of Los Osos California, grandchildren, and many very dear friends.
Memorial Services will be held at the Gillen Home at 550 Reynolds Road in Union, 11 am. Wednesday, September 20, 2017 with Rev. Ben James officiating. Burial will follow in the Reynolds Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Monroe Arts Alliance, P.O. Box 456, Union, WV 24983
Those wishing to send online condolences to the Gillen Family may do so by visiting www. grovesfuneralhome.com
Groves Funeral Home in Union is in charge of arrangements.