Wilma Marie Harp Gaugh

Published 1:28 pm Thursday, October 27, 2016

Wilma Marie Harp Gaugh, was born in Detroit, Michigan, April 30, 1927, the daughter of William B. Harp and Verna Leota Rader Harp. She was the wife of Curtis Paul Gaugh of Groves, Texas; and mother of Cynthia Marie Gaugh Seils, deceased, and William Sterling Gaugh of Nederland, Texas; grandmother to Cynthia’s two sons, Jeffery C. Seils and Christopher R. Seils.

She attended elementary school in Windsor, Canada and graduated from Clawson Michigan High School on June 7, 1945. She was a Wave in the U. S. Navy, a Yeomen in the Provost Marshall Legal Office at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, CA, where she and Curtis met at a Grounded Personnel Club meeting. Two and a half years later they married, after both were discharged, on November 1, 1952 in Bowling Green, OH. Wilma was a stay at home mother, and used her time crocheting and sewing for herself and making all of Cynthia’s school and event clothes. Participating in the PTA, serving on the Election Boards, Blue Birds, Hospital Volunteer, and VFW Auxiliary. After the children were out of school she enrolled in Lamar for a vocational Medical Clerk degree and worked at St. Elizabeth Hospital Emergency until 1985.

She was a charter member of VFW Auxiliary Post #4820, and has a life membership, and held post assignments as president, treasurer, chaplain and trustee.

She joined Holy Trinity Episcopal Church on Easter Sunday 1959 and was confirmed by Bishop Percy Goddard along with the four family members. She was drafted into the choir and was joined by her husband after he retired in 1995, she later had to retire from the choir due to her eyesight after 40 years. She has been an active member as Altar Guild, ECW President, Treasurer, Book Remembrance, Vestry, Lay Reader, Eucharistic lay minister to shut-ins and home bound church members. She has also been active as Diocese Delegate on several occasions, was involved as witness, team leader, and director for Faith Alive weekends for four years in the 1970’s.

She worked part time at Smith Drugs in downtown Port Neches, the Style Dress Shop next to Smith’s Drug, and has been in the Nederland, Port Neches area since December of 1952.

She always referred to herself as a “Damn Yankee”, and did not see fit to return to the North.

A memorial service will be 2:00 p.m., Sunday, October 30, 2016 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Port Neches with Reverend Cliff Rucker officiating.

The family would like to thank, Mary Lee Birdwell, Elle Lanclos, Moon Sullivan, Erica Jacko, and Kelli Boland and also Southeast Texas Hospice of Orange.

Friends wishing to make memorial contributions may send them to: Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Foundation, 2425 Nall Street, Port Neches, TX 77651.