Vivian Geralene Lightfoot, 81, of London, went to be with the Lord on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, surrounded by her four girls and their families.
She was born on Feb. 14, 1934, in Ashville, to the late Creed Lando and Mary Myrtle (Fowler) Ward.
Gerri proudly served the village of Mt. Sterling as a police dispatcher and clerk of the Mayor’s Court, retiring after 25 years.
She attended Walnut School in Ashville until almost completing the 12th grade. She was determined to receive her diploma, so while raising her family and working a full-time job, she went back to school, attending alongside students 25 years younger, and graduated in 1977 from London High School.
She loved cooking, reading, sitting outdoors watching the birds and squirrels, and spending time with her family. She was always there for anyone, offering encouragement or a helping hand.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Helen Jean Cummins and Mary Marvene Devors; and brothers, Robert Richard “Sonny” Ward and Neal Garber Ward.
She is survived by daughters, Sheila (Ted) Smalley of Amanda, Susan (late Richard) Smalley of Washington Court House, Sheryl Shaw of London and Tina (Brian) Fleshman of Delaware; grandchildren, Joseph, Steven, Eric Smalley, Amy and Adam Shaw, Brenda Amburgey, Chloe and Morgan Fleshman; 13 great-grandchildren; sisters, Vera Mae (Earl) Smith of Circleville and Grace Marguerite Watson of Ashville; and numerous nieces, nephews and other loved ones.
Family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Oliver-Cheek Funeral Home, 420 W. Main St., Ashville, with a service at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016, with Pastor Ty Myers officiating. Interment will follow in Reber Hill Cemetery.
Online guestbook at www.olivercheekfuneralhome.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pickaway News Journal
