Ginny Gesch

Virginia Mae (Collum) Gesch was born at home on Friday, March 13, 1928 at Red Hill, 10 miles west of Maud, OK. She was the fourth of eleven children (ten girls and one boy) born to the late Mary (Tiffin) and Oscar Collum. Virginia, referred to as Ginny, died Saturday, March 11, 2023 in Odessa, surrounded by family.

She was a 1947 graduate of Odessa High School and was always a very strong OHS supporter. She married Fritz Gesch on June 16, 1947 in Odessa. They had five sons and several boys and girls that she was instrumental in raising and mentoring. She and Fritz would gather up and take all the grandkids to the lake where they would play, fish, feed and take care of them all week. She caught the biggest fish.

Her legacy includes her being an excellent seamstress, loved reading and books, and being a nurturer raising boys and girls. She was a large influence in all of her daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great grandchildren’s lives. She loved children and they loved her. She was very creative and good at crafts and worked on many projects with and for others, and also with her sister making many dolls for children and adults. Every doll had a heart. She visited all of the continental United States and had lived in Oklahoma for twelve years as a child and in West Virginia for eighteen years during her mid life.

Ginny was a strong Christian. Anyone who knew her knew she had unwavering faith in Jesus Christ, her and our Lord and savior. Anyone who needed help was always welcome to come and she would be sure their needs were met. She comforted and nursed many during their times of pain and sickness.

She is survived by three sisters, Mary, Bonnie and Ruth; three sons, Tom (Mary), Bill (Beth) and Phil (Laurel); daughter-in-law Tommie; thirteen grandchildren; twenty great grandchildren; six great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews whom all loved her.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Fritz; two sons, Terry and Clifford; one brother and five sisters.

The family will receive friends for visitation on Thursday, March 16, 2023 from 5-9 PM at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Friday, March 17th at 10 AM at the funeral home followed by burial at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Her granddaughters, Amy Martin, Amber Gesch, Tracie Cline, Heather DeLaO, Jessica Denney, Cecilia Gesch and Gayla Sanders will serve as pallbearers.