Ruth Beverly Gelina

"Joy in Serving Jesus"

 Ruth Berkhoudt Gelina went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Ruth's smile and her way of life showed that she believed the words of her favorite song, "There is Joy in Serving Jesus." She often said that she would not have changed anything in her life. She loved her husband Dick; they were married 65 years. And she loved their two children, Shawne and Richard, and their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She considered her two sisters who preceded her in death, Lucy Pipher and Billie Sorber, and her brother David Hettinger who lives in New York, as great friends.

She graduated from Johnson City (NY) High School in 1951, from Baptist Bible Seminary in 1955, and then received her Master of Education degree from Oneonta State Teachers College in 1958. She loved teaching and felt it was a privilege to work alongside her husband as he started churches in Maine, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and South Africa.

 Her grandsons Caleb and Luke Ebersole were born and raised in Bangladesh, where her daughter Shawne and son-in-law Harold were missionaries for 32 years; these two grandsons and their wives all graduated from Bryan College. Their other grandson David grew up in Virginia.

 They have been blessed with five great-grandchildren. Addi, C.J., Kaylee, and Sophie Ebersole live here in Dayton with their parents, Caleb and Annalyn; Jenna Ebersole lives in Somerset, Kentucky, with her parents, Luke and Kate-Marie.

Ruth's favorite Bible verse was Philippians 1:6. "Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." This verse of assurance has been her foundation of ministry: Be faithful to God's Word, and leave the results up to our gracious God.

 Ruth and Dick Gelina moved to Dayton in 2018 and have thoroughly enjoyed the town's activities and the community's friendliness. They are members of New Union Baptist Church.

 A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, March 20, at 4:00 p.m. at New Union Baptist Church. All are welcome to attend.

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