Joan (Thill) Gelston

Joan (Thill) Gelston, 89, of Rogers, Ark., died Sept. 29, 2014. She was born June 27, 1925, in Buffalo, N.Y., to parents Loretta (Farrell) Thill and Joseph Thill. With a journalism degree, Joan started her career in advertising copy writing in Boston, commuting from her beloved Marblehead. During the Korean War she was commissioned as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, running the public relations office of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where she met her future husband. After the war, his career took them to Charlton Village, N.Y., Pelham, N.H., Lake Geneva, Wis., and Worthington, Ohio. She and Bert retired to Charlton Village, N.Y., where she remained until 2011 when she moved to Innisfree Retirement Community in Rogers, Ark. After raising her children, Joan worked for the Lake Geneva Regional News and Rosenbluth Travel Services in the Schenectady region of Upstate New York. She was an ardent volunteer with the Girl Scouts, Charlton Historical Society, serving as its president, and Charlton Historical District Planning Commission. She was actively involved in reviving the Charlton Historical Museum and was a docent for the Schenectady County Electrical Museum. Joan married Norbert Gelston in 1954, who preceded her in death by 20 years. She was preceded in death by stepson, John "Skip" Gelston; and beloved brother, Joseph Farrell Thill of Kenmore, N.Y. Surviving are children, Sally, Andy of New Hampshire, and Kerry G. (Dave) Stricker of Rogers, Ark.; stepchildren, Sandy of New York and Jane Miller of Missouri; grandchildren, Drew and Sarah Stricker, Ryan Gelston, Jim Tucker, Liz LaLonde, Scott Alfrey, Sarah Poindexter, and Jon and Chris Gelston; sister-in-law, Kathleen Thill; numerous great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. Joan and her appreciative nature and witty perspectives will be greatly missed by family and friends. Mass of the Resurrection will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, 2014, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 1315 W. Cypress St., Rogers, Ark. Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista, Ark. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Andrew Episcopal Church, 820 W. Oak St., Rogers, AR 72756. Online condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.