Gail L. Satterthwaite's Obituary
SATTERTHWAITE, Gail L., age 77, of Wilmington, passed away Sunday, September 22, 2024, at Clinton Memorial Hospital.
Gail graduated from Wilmington High School, class of '64. She earned her nursing degree from Nesbitt Nursing College, class of '68. For 52 years, she proudly served as a registered nurse with Hospice of Dayton, finally retiring in 2020. She was a member of the Wilmington United Methodist Church for 66 years. Being a member of the church was a big part of her life. In the church, she married the man of her dreams, raised her kids, volunteered at numerous events, and participated in countless committees. Gail was very involved in the church until the last few days. Nurturing, caring, and very giving, Gail was driven to help others in a nonjudgmental way. Many times, she went out of her way to make others happy and would do anything for you; she was incredibly selfless. In 1986, she donated her kidney to her son, Jeffery, when he was in need. She instilled this selflessness into her daughter, Lora, who donated her kidney to her father when he was also in need. The Kidney Foundation was always a significant foundation for the family. Gail had a special personality that could make even the most awkward person feel comfortable in her presence. In addition, she was a volunteer in the Clinton County Court Appointed Special Advocate "CASA" program for six years. This program appointed volunteers to be guardians ad litem and to speak for the best interest of children who are brought before the court for reasons of abuse, neglect, and/or dependency.
She had a passion for traveling and taking cruises with family and friends. She never had a specific place in mind, wherever the ship would take her. In addition, she enjoyed traveling to Florida to see her sister, always stopping by Disney World, Gatlinburg with her family, and to Pennsylvania to visit her son, Michael. Reading was another one of her favorite hobbies. She could spend hours shopping inside a bookstore, looking for just the right mystery or new fiction novel to add to her collection at home. She was a book club member, allowing her to discuss various books that would whisk her into another world. She also indulged in shopping for shoes and purses. She enjoyed attending the theater and was a big movie buff. She followed the Outlander show and was a huge sports fan, always cheering on the Cincinnati Reds, The Ohio State University, and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Gail was all about her family; they were everything to her. She was the rock for the family, the glue that kept everything together, and the central "hub" for the family's communication. She was very proud of her two boys and her daughter and loved them dearly. While the kids were growing up, they had a Yorkie, Skipper, who stole her heart and became a close companion. She was very fond of her granddogs as well. She was best friends with her sisters. She even shopped QVC with them, and they would always laugh when one sister bought an item already, saying, "Of course you did!" She will be remembered for her debates with her son, Michael, over who had the best chicken salad, which always led to a comparison test. Holiday dinners became her highlight, especially Thanksgiving, when everyone came together. They even had a tradition of going to the movies during the holidays. She was an excellent cook, and you could never think about the holidays without thinking of the delicious food she could create. She made everyone feel special by ensuring she had their favorites at the table. She was known for always being early and being the first person to celebrate your good news or congratulate you. No matter what, she always acknowledged everyone's birthday. Among many things, she will be remembered for her love for her family, her compassion as a hospice nurse, and how devoted she was to sharing God's word through her church. The family can now rest assured that she is home and, like she always said, "Don't worry about me."
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Terry Satterthwaite, in 2011; her son, Jeffery Satterthwaite, in 2017; and her parents, George and Margaretta Shorts. She is survived by her son, Michael (Kimberly Timer) Satterthwaite; daughter, Lora (Michael) Austin; four grandchildren, Liam Satterthwaite, Lily Satterthwaite, Bailey (Thomas) Wells, and Allison Austin; three great-grandchildren, Madden, Max, and Louise Wells; and two sisters, Margaret (John) Pierson and Cathy (Howard) Miller.
Funeral services will be held at 1 PM Thursday, September 26, at Wilmington United Methodist Church, 50 E Locust Street, Wilmington, OH 45177. Burial will be in Miami Cemetery, Corwin. Rev. R. Scott Miller will be officiating. The family will receive friends from 10 - 1 PM on Thursday at the church. Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home, Waynesville, will be serving the family. If desired, contributions can be made to the Kidney Foundation of Greater Cincinnati. Condolences at www.stubbsconner.com.
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