Gertrude Williams Gaston

Gertrude Gaston (nee Williams) 97, a resident of Rock Hill since her marriage to Samuel Porter Gaston, Sr. in 1937 a mother of 7 children passed away surrounded by 4 generations of her family at the Wayne T. Patrick Hospice in Rock Hill on Saturday February 11, 2012.

She is survived by two daughters Mary Martin and husband Ed; Betty Loveless; four sons Sam Gaston, Jr. and wife Patricia; David Gaston and wife Carrie Acquaro; Johnny Gaston and wife Martha; and Bill Gaston; one sister, Nancy Gaston Locke; 12 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren and 8 great great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Samuel Porter Gaston, Sr. in 1978 and her son Frank Wayne Gaston in 2012.

All memorial and ceremonies are to be private and restricted to immediate family and friends.

Gertrude was a devoted mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend.

She was born in 1914 during the Woodrow Wilson Administration just prior to the First World War and experienced the Great Depression and Second World War and sent her sons to war like so many mothers to the war in Vietnam. Her life encompassed a span that had had phenomenal technological changes and improvements in life style and conveniences.

The family, like so many who experienced the Great Depression; while they struggled to survive this period of deprivation that affected the entire population of the country, always managed to keep a roof over their heads; adequate food for the family, as well as, a good sense of humor.

Through this struggle both Samuel Porter Gaston, Sr. and Gertrude were able to raise their children with a work ethic that has served them all for their entire lives to date and serves as a legacy to the succeeding generations.

Samuel and Gertrude also provided a very finely honed moral compass which gave to their children a sense of honor, love of family and a responsibility for their fellow man.

She was a rare individual who loved her children deeply but showed it by maintaining an inordinate sense of humor and ability to joke with them constantly. There is a Gaston "wink" that accompanies many of the interpersonal comments that the children exchange which is a form of kiss then slap psychology that keeps everyone in line while letting them know that they are equally loved at the same time.

As a mother of 7 children she provided an atmosphere for them which was rare amongst parents because of her struggle to survive for the past 34 years as a widow.
Her children showed their devotion by visiting often and making certain that she was well taken care of , certainly by Frank Wayne Gaston, who dedicated the past 27 years of his life to her care as a live in caretaker.

It is rare that the children remain as close as they do under the circumstances because once her torch passes each child will form the head of their own family division as is the natural way of things.

She was a devoted Christian and also a dedicated person whom God has granted a long life and she filled it well.

She, along with her late son, Frank were very fond of Blue Grass music and Frank was an authority on it because of his focus on that genre and they enjoyed listening to it together.

Gertrude loved her children and grand children both great and beyond with a deep and abiding concern for their safety and welfare. Like her son Frank, whom she taught so well, she was not demonstrative emotionally except through reverse psychology in which she follows a consistent and long line of Gaston thinking, a great deal of which she was able to create and instill within her children.

The most common reference was for the knots on the head for her children reminiscent of childhood discipline and a consistent form of conversational reference.
Gertrude made her impact on the lives of those with whom she came into contact in many different ways and will be remembered uniquely by each person, who has their own special memories of her as mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great great grandmother and friend.
Her true immortality lies in the memories of her life by each of those who knew her.

We shall all miss Mother Gaston in our own special way and pray that she is reunited with her late husband and departed loved ones and basking in the Glory of God without pain and suffering and with eternal peace and perpetual light shining upon her.

Those wishing to honor the memory of Gertrude Gaston can do so by making contributions to the Wayne T. Patrick Hospice in Rock Hill, South Carolina