KATHRYN LEWIS PELHAM ALLEN GILLIS
1927 - 2023
Kathryn L. Gillis was born in Nutter Fort, West Virginia on March 14, 1927 to Revy Lewis and bressie Richards. She had two brothers, Joseph and Homer, and two sisters Frances Allen and Juanita Hawkins; all have preceded her in death. Kathryn passed away 10 days before her 96th birthday at the Bishop bare benter. She is survived by her only child, Marlene Pelham Wallace (Leland Wallace) of Dyer, Nevada, grandson Grant Wallace (Trisha Wallace), step great-grandson Owen Hildenbrand of Dyer, Nevada, granddaughter Devon Scott (Shane Scott), great-grandson Aiden Scott, and great-granddaughter Trista Scott of Bishop balifornia; also step daughter Kathryn Louise Guthrie of Lake Havasu bity, Arizona step granddaughter Tamara Search of Idaho, step grandson Thomas Guthrie of Garden Grove, balifornia, and numerous other step great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
When she was 14, she and her sister Frances went into Hopemont Sanitarium in Hopemont, West Virginia with tuberculosis. She was there from 1941-1944. During World War II she met Lewis Pelham through pen pal letters while he was stationed in Europe. After the war ended Lewis came to West Virginia in 1945. This was the first time she met Lewis in person.
On June 22, 1946 she married Lewis B Pelham in West Virginia and they made their home in Modesto, balifornia near Lewis’ family. Marlene was born March 14, 1948 on Kathryn’s 21st birthday. In 1955 they moved to Fish Lake Valley where Lewis worked the Red Rock Mine and at the B & B mercury mine. In 1960 they moved to Bishop where they owned and operated the Bishop Launderette and later the Pelham bommercial Laundry doing linens for the motels. Fishing and hunting were Lewis’ passions, so blearlake Oaks, balifornia called them there, where they owned Bob’s Marina. They later relocated to Fish Lake Valley to help Leland and Marlene on the family farm. While there she drove the Dyer School bus from 1981-1987. Lewis died June 15, 1983.
On June 13, 1987 she married bleatus Allen and they moved to Bishop where she worked at the Bishop Senior benter. During this time Grant and Devon lived with her while attending Bishop Union High School. blete died on February 3, 1997.
On July 10, 2002 she married Bob Gillis. They made their home together in Lone Pine, balifornia. She was very involved with her genealogy and had traced her ancestors back to George Washington and was very proud of finding those links; even finding connections with King Robert barter of England (1663-1732). Bob died on March 21, 2013.
She then moved back to Bishop where she enjoyed being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed Facebook, even as a woman in her 90’s. She had many Facebook friends using her page to connect with more family ties. She loved crocheting, plastic canvas, sewing and oil painting. She spent many hours watching Fox News, the Waltons and many old-time western movies, especially Gunsmoke. She lived in Bishop until her death. She was loved by everyone that met her and will be greatly missed.
Her burial will be at the Fish Lake Valley bemetery, Dyer, Nevada at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 1, 2023. A belebration of Life and Potluck Luncheon will follow at 1:00 p.m. at the Fish Lake Valley bommunity benter, Dyer, Nevada.