Obituary of Wilma Geraldine Gunter

Wilma Geraldine Gunter, (Gerry) was born on December 6, 1932 in McAlester, Oklahoma. She died peacefully at home with family singing hymns around her bed, August 24, 2020, in Sacramento, California. Her husband of 69 years died just one day before her, on August 23, 2020. She has left behind: Her children: Marilyn Janiece Gunter Hardy (Douglas), Michael Keith Gunter (Betty), Mark Stephen Gunter (Kathy) and Mitchell Ernest Gunter (Diana). Her Grandchildren: Andrea Kelleher (Steven), Leslie Thomas (Brandon), Shelly Taumohaapai (Saia), Marci Tupou (Tolo), Shalene Feltner (Bo), Stephen Gunter (Jocelyn), Nathan Gunter (Denae), Jennifer Gunter, Jesse Gunter (Candee), Jeremy Gunter (Kat), Jana Brewer. Her Great-Grandchildren: Caleb, Kylie, Hailey and Cody Thomas, Reese and Knox Kelleher; Elenoa, Kalisi, Tofa and Naina Taumohaapai, Liumai, Soni, Larkin and Liz Tupou, Jonathan Feltner (deceased), Gregory, Bree, Caitlin and Logan Feltner, Shalena and Kaylena Gunter, Ariyanna, Jaylen, Jayden, Akala-Joy and Alaya Gunter, Taiya, Lena, Mo and Nadia Gunter. A private viewing will be held on September 4, 2020, at Sacramento Memorial Lawn at 5:00 p.m. A private graveside service will be held on September 5, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. Gerry was the only child of Delbert and Dennie Farris. She always said that her mother was her first playmate and even though she didn’t have brothers or sisters, she had a wonderful childhood. Gerry inherited her dad’s musical talent. Her father could play anything with strings and his guitar playing was exceptional. Her talent was on the piano. Although she had a few piano lessons, the teacher said she couldn’t really teach her anything. The teacher would play a song and Gerry would go home and play it from memory, putting her own touch on it. Her piano playing was beautiful and anointed by God. She became the church pianist when she was about 12 years old. God gave her the talent to play and she loved to play for the Lord. She attended the Pentecostal Holiness School in Madera called Sharon Bible School from 8th grade to 12th grade. Her father ran the dairy and her mother was one of the cooks. Gerry met Ernie Gunter the first time at Camp Meeting when she was about 15 years old. When she was around 17 years, Ernie began courting Gerry. He’d drive his car from Sacramento to Olivehurst every weekend where Grandma had moved to. She worked at Foster’s Freeze and would always make him his favorite. a fresh strawberry milkshake. On January 28, 1951, she married her sweetheart, Ernest Junior Gunter. They had four children which has become the big Gunter clan of 61 people and growing. By 1954, Ernie’s military service ended. He began working for the County of Sacramento and soon after, so did Gerry. By 1958, when she was still 25 years old, she had four children. She was always willing to help with school activities, such as filling her station wagon with field trip kids. The things that were most important to Gerry were God, her family, extended family and her multitude of friends both old and new. She served as a leader and pillar of the church almost her whole life. She taught Sunday School, served on Women’s Ministry Boards, Youth Boards and was the volunteer secretary to her pastor for many years. But her first and foremost place of ministry was being the church pianist. She had a beautiful soprano voice and she sometimes sang solos or in choirs. She always sang the highest notes with such ease. She worked tirelessly with young singers who were trying to learn to harmonize. She traveled all over to go to Southern Gospel Concerts, always ready for a road trip. You could always hear Gerry say, “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.” She was the queen of a soft touch and a gentle word. She was supportive. She went to every ball game, band concert, parade, play, choir performance her kids were involved in. She showed how to love and support a husband. And Ernie knew the jewel he had in her. Ernie played fast-pitch softball. So Gerry, being his cheerleader and supporter, learned to love the game to and became the team scorekeeper. She always had accurate information, who was up next, how many runs, errors, walks and which inning they were in. She never missed a thing She loved to help. If her family or friends needed her help, she was always there to do lend a helping hand. No giving was too much and too much was not enough, to her. She didn’t just care for her family, she cared for everyone’s family. She loved to shop. She could find a golden nugget on a sale rack better than anyone. She would buy sets and sets of flatwear for when her grandchildren got married. Never mind that they were just ten years old, she would save it for them…besides, it was a great deal! She was beautiful, inside and out. She wasn’t the richest in earthly possessions but she was wealthy beyond measure in the eternal things that will last forever. Thank you Mom and Grandma for setting an example we can safely follow. You never led us wrong. We’ll see you in just a little while when we join you in heaven.