Geneva Shortridge Shepard, 84, of Rowe, Virginia was reunited with her husband of sixty-three years, James Henry Shepard (who passed away on September 27, 2019), when she passed away on Monday (April 12, 2021). Geneva was born on September 22, 1936 in Rowe, Virginia to the late Ernest and Watie Blankenship Shortridge. She and her husband, James along with her brother, Emory Shortridge and Shirley Hall were married in a double ceremony on April 14, 1956. He was the love of her life and she mourned his passing every single day.
In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by one sister, Opal Rowe and two brothers, Emory Shortridge and Mike Shortridge.
Survivors include one daughter, Veronica Gilmer and husband, Kelly; one granddaughter, Katie Gilmer; one sister, Dean Harris; five brothers, Don Shortridge, Harley Shortridge, Harold (Sandy) Shortridge, Robert (Mildred) Shortridge and Ralph (Sue) Shortridge; sister-in-law, Shirley Shortridge; special nieces, Vickie Moore, her special caregiver for six months, allowing Geneva the freedom to live at home, and Charlene Jessee and Pam Woodward who sat with her during her most recent hospital stay; several additional nieces and nephews also survive.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Commonwealth Senior Living for the help and care they have provided for the past eight months; the nurses, staff and doctors at Johnston Memorial Hospital, who cared for her the past two weeks and to Ballad Health Hospice.
Funeral services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrance gifts be made to the charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be made at www.honakerfuneralhome.net.