Lillie M. Gewinner

July 11, 1926 - November 20, 2013

At this time of Thanksgiving, we give thanks for the life of Lillie M. Gewinner, who passed away at home on November 20, 2013. Lillie was born on July 11, 1926 at her parent's home in Overland, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. She was the third of five children of Aubrey and Lillie Vaughn. After high school and during the war, she worked at Curtiss-Wright Corporation in St. Louis. After the war, Lillie went to work in her father's dairy business. Shortly thereafter, she met the love of her life, Bob Gewinner, a Navy war veteran, on a blind date. They married in 1947 and moved to Palm Beach County in 1956. Earlier this year, they celebrated their 66th anniversary. Lil and Bob had two daughters, Joan Osborne (husband Mitch) and Pamela Gewinner, M.D. (husband Todd Wang), two grandchildren, Sarah Rayner (husband Trent) and Robby Osborne. Also, she is survived by sister Barbara Haas; brother Aubrey Vaughn, Jr. (wife Norma); sister-in-law Margie Vaughn, and many nieces, nephews, and friends. While the girls were growing up, Lil volunteered as a Grey Lady in the Lake Park Elementary School Clinic and as a Deacon at Immanuel Presbyterian Church. She was a charter member and past president of P.E.O. Chapter GJ in Palm Beach Gardens. P.E.O., with its emphasis on supporting women through education and friendship, was core to her being and one of the most important missions of her life. Lil's other important mission was her family. She worked diligently to provide a good home. When her daughter, Pam, announced that she wanted to go to medical school, Lil went to college to prepare to re-enter the workforce. She worked at Florida Power and Light (FPL) for eight years to help finance Pam's medical school. During that time, she was selected for the committee to improve quality at FPL. The company won the prestigious International Deming Award and major kudos went to the committee members and to Lil for making it happen. Lil loved to celebrate Christmas and we will miss her dearly this year, and always, but know she lived a life of love and loveliness, inside and out. We are better for having known her. Please join us for a celebration of her life at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, December 18, at First Presbyterian Church of North Palm Beach, 717 Prosperity Farms Road, North Palm Beach, followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the P.E.O. Foundation and sent to the P.E.O. Executive Office, Treasurer's Department, 3700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50312.