Obituaries

Julia L. Gerwig, known to her family as Judy, passed away at the age of 95 on February 22, 2018, in McKinney, Texas.
Julia was the oldest of the four children of Kathryn Erskine Droullard and Harry E. Droullard. She was born in Mason City, Iowa, while her father was opening the new Hanford Hotel. As the first child born to the hotel staff, the hotel flag was first raised in honor of her birth on August 10, 1922, and Hanford was included in her birth-name: Julia Lee Hanford Droullard.
She grew up in Armor Park, South Charleston, West Virginia, with her widowed mother, grandmother and siblings. Julia graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School in Charleston in 1941 and attended Charleston School of Commerce. Prior to her marriage, she worked as a secretary in the defense industry.
In February of 1942, Julia was introduced to the love of her life, John Walter Gerwig. They were married on December 26, 1944, after John returned from pilot duty with the Army Air Corp in the South Pacific during World War II.
They lived in West Virginia, including times spent with Julia’s mother and step-father in Charleston while John flew for the Air Force in Korea during the Korean Conflict.
Julia enjoyed her life as an Air Force officer’s wife, traveling the country and establishing welcoming homes and warm friendships each place John was stationed. They raised their three children on or near bases in Kentucky, Minnesota, Kansas, Hawaii, Maryland, Ohio and Alabama. A few years after her husband’s death in 1999, Julia moved to McKinney, Texas to be nearer children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Julia treasured family: the close family she grew up in and their spouses and children; John’s parents and extended family; and her children and their spouses; and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was known as “the kissing aunt.” Her family was the medium for whom and through which she shared her sewing, design, and cooking talents; her elegant joy; and her tender love.
Funeral services for Julia Lee Hanford Droullard Gerwig will be held on Saturday, March 10, 2018, at the Ellyson Funeral Home in Glenville, West Virginia. Visitation for family and friends will be at 2:00 p.m. followed by services at 3:00 p.m. She will then be buried by her husband’s side at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church near Normantown, West Virginia.
Julia was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, retired Lt. Col. John W. Gerwig. She was also predeceased by her father Harry E. Droullard; her mother Katherine Erskine Droullard Jameson; and her step-father, Robert Hurd Jameson. Julia was also predeceased by her prematurely born infant Patricia Doris Gerwig; brother Harry Droullard and his wife Kay; sister Pat Barton and her husband Bill; and all of her husband’s brothers, sisters, and their spouses.
She is survived by three children: John W. Gerwig, Jr. and his wife Kim of Dallas, Texas; Susan Gerwig Penney and her husband Perry (Monte) of Belle Haven, Virginia; and Kathleen Gerwig Houston and her husband John of McKinney, Texas and Dauphin Island, Alabama. She is also survived by former
daughter-in-law Peggy Schilling Gerwig of McKinney, Texas, and grandchildren Todd Gerwig (and Typhony) of Denton, Texas; John. W. Gerwig, III (Trey) of McKinney, Texas; Christopher Michael Houston of McKinney, Texas; Ian Joseph Houston of Long Beach, California, Robert Thomas Houston of Frisco, Texas; Meredith Houston Wiese (and Maxwell) of McKinney, Texas; Samuel Jameson Penney of Seattle, Washington; step-grandchildren Jacob Olgreen (and Vanessa), Cameron Dowell and Elizabeth Dowell, all of Dallas, Texas; brother Donald Droullard (and Wanda) of Charleston, West Virginia; nine great-grandchildren; and beloved caregivers.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Julia’s honor to the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association.