Pleasant Gilboy
Camp Hill, Pa. — Pleasant “Pam” A. Gilboy passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 20, 2017, at The Woods at Cedar Run Assisted Living.
Pleasant was born in McCauley, W.Va., on July 18, 1931, to the late William H. and Genettie (Miller) Combs. Pleasant attended Central Woodstock High School in Woodstock, Va. (Class of 1949). She was president of the Art Club and a member of the National High School Poetry Association. Her work was published in the American Poetry Society’s 1949 Anthology of Inspirational Poetry.
After high school, Pleasant worked in Washington, D.C., for the telephone company. In the early 1950s, while working as a traveling secret shopper, she met the love of her life, Thomas “Tom” E. Gilboy of New Castle, Pa. Tom deepened her faith in the Lord, and in 1954, she converted to the Roman Catholic Church. Pleasant and Tom were married in Cicero, Ill., in 1956, and had one daughter, Theresa “Terry” R. (Gilboy) Weiss, who survives her. Pleasant drew upon her faith to help her through Tom’s battle with cancer, which claimed him in 1962. She and Terry then resettled in Enola, Pa.
Pleasant is predeceased by two older sisters, Nellie E. Villani of Enola, Pa. and Mabel Jones Grove of Woodstock, Va.; and a younger brother, Harry Combs, also of Woodstock, Va.
She is survived by an older brother, Ralph Combs of Woodstock, Va.; and many nieces and nephews. She leaves behind her cherished granddaughter, Amanda “Mandy” Weiss, who lives in New York City, daughter of Terry and Richard Weiss of Waterford.
In the early to mid 1960s, Pleasant made a living as a secretary in the Harrisburg, Pa., area. She also volunteered tirelessly for nearly 14 years to support the humanitarian work of the Dr. Thomas A. Dooley Foundation. Pleasant was founder and president of its Harrisburg-York Chapter, and promoted Dr. Dooley’s medical care and relief efforts in South Asia through her numerous presentations, publicity articles and fund-raising activities.
Between 1968 and her retirement in 1995, “Pam,” as she became known, worked at the Naval Supply Depot in Mechanicsburg, Pa., the last 15 years of which were as a computer systems programmer, a career achievement she was very proud of. For many years while on the base, Pam planned and coordinated basewide educational presentations, obtaining speakers on safety and health topics. She also delighted co-workers near her office with her much anticipated seasonal decorations, which gave her a creative outlet while bringing joy to others with her displays.
For decades, Pam dedicated her spare time to writing faithfully, almost daily, to friends near and far who were either homebound or confined to convalescent homes. Pam was a true humanitarian at heart, and beloved by many for her warm smile, her spunky wit, and her caring and unselfish ways.
The family wishes to thank everyone at The Woods at Cedar Run and at Homeland Hospice (including Ella Home Care), for all the loving support and care they provided Pam, especially this past year.
A Catholic Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017, at St. Theresa Church, 1300 Bridge St., New Cumberland, Pa. After the Mass, Pam’s family will receive friends and relatives at a reception at the church hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Pam’s memory may be made to Homeland Hospice, 2300 Vartan Way, Suite 115, Harrisburg, PA 17110.