Gwendolyn A. Sterr

Gwen was born in Weatherford, Texas in Parker County on December 6, 1917 to William and Matilda Lynn. Gwen was the youngest of three children with her sister Alice and her brother Bob. William was a telegraph operator for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad. Shortly after Gwen's birth, he was assigned to the railroad depot in Lindsay, Oklahoma. Gwen attended both Lindsay elementary and Lindsay high school. After graduating, she attended college at the Oklahoma College for Women (OCW) in Chickasha Oklahoma for two years. As Gwen's intended major was journalism, she transferred to Oklahoma University and graduated with a degree in journalism in 1940. Gwen married her childhood sweet heart Paul Sterr in 1940. Paul was also a Lindsay resident and they had grown up only a few blocks apart. Gwen and Paul settled in Kettle Falls, Washington. Paul opened a grocery store with his brother Fritz in Kettle Falls and Paul also worked in construction on the Grand Coulee Dam. While on a trip from Kettle falls to Lindsay, they stopped in Amarillo and heard the news about the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. Paul decided to enlist in the navy. Gwen continued to live in Lindsay while Paul served in the Pacific theater with Naval intelligence. At war's end, Gwen and Paul moved to San Benito, Texas and began vegetable farming. In 1949, Gwen gave birth to William in Harlingen, Texas. The same year, freak weather phenomena brought freezing weather to the Rio Grande valley and wiped out all of the crops. Gwen and Paul moved back to Lindsay and Paul began farming. In 1951 their second child Theresa was born in Chickasha. As farming is a hard scrabble life, money was short. Gwen returned to OCW and earned a teaching degree. Gwen was then employed as a third grade elementary school teacher in the Lindsay public school system for many years. With the added income from teaching and Paul's acquiring a farm supply business, both Gwen and Paul were able to lead a comfortable life in their later years. Gwen and Paul traveled throughout central and South America studying Meso American cultures such as the Inca and Maya. Paul was called home to our creator in 2004. Gwen went home to be with the Lord on January 26, 2012. She was preceded in her journey by her sister Alice and brother Bob. Gwen is survived by William and Terri as well as three grandchildren, Jessica, Carolina and Emily. William and his spouse Yaney presently live in Katy, Texas, and Terri and her spouse Ralph live in Georgetown, Texas. A memorial service was held for Gwen on Monday, January 30th, 2012 at ten o?clock a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Lindsay, Oklahoma with Rev. Ron King officiating. The service was under the direction of B.G. Boydston Funeral Home of Lindsay, Oklahoma. Condolences for the family may be made online at www.boydstonfuneralhome.com

Gwendolyn A. Sterr

December 6, 1917 - January 26, 2012

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