Zenia Jane Gilbert

With great sadness we announce the passing of our beloved Zenia on Sunday, July 26, 2026. However, we rejoice in knowing that over her 88 years being led by the Holy Spirit, she has been brought to the Throne of God, with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ holding her hand and walking her Home.

Our sweet girl was born June 13, 1938 in a small house in Pine Bank to James Lloyd and Violet Elizabeth Stockdale Gilbert. She was born a scrawny little thing with a head full of flaming red hair and big brown doe eyes that would melt your heart. Immediately after her birth, her Daddy, wanted to show her off to all his friends at the general store nearby. Violet said he needed to wait a few days before they took her for a first outing. Well, as good as her word, after a few days, she told Lloyd he was allowed to show her off and boy did he! He was so proud of his little baby girl. His friends thought that he was the happiest man in the world. But, he was worried. He told his friends, that he had not mentioned it to his wife, but he was afraid that baby Zenia’s tiny ears weren’t done yet! His friends assured him that his precious girl was just fine and not to worry. That made Lloyd feel better.

Along the way she was greeted by two sisters: Carolyn and Montine. Zenia was a very nurturing older sibling. So very nurturing that one day Violet told Zenia to watch baby Carolyn while she walked across the yard to their good friend Bernice Pfender’s home. Violet wasn’t even gone two minutes when she was headed home and something caught her eye. Her heart starting to pound rather quickly. The closer she got to their home, close enough for little Zenia to hear her mother. “Zenia Jane what are you doing?” Zenia clutching her baby sister at the second floor window sill, she replied: “I’m teaching the baby to fly”. In her calm voice, Violet told her little daughter “Zenia you hold baby Carolyn tight and bring her downstairs” in which our little redhead replied, after thinking about it for a minute, “I guess I can do that, but I really want her to fly”.

She was baptized at Valley Chapel Church, Holbrook as a young girl and then when she was older in the 1960s she was baptized by Rev. McSworland at First Christian Church of Waynesburg. She loved her Lord so very much and what a Witness she has been for Him just by being her genuine self.

Zenia, Carolyn and Montine had a lot of friends growing up in Rogersville. It was such a different time back then. So many neighborhood kids to play with having so much fun and so many more adventures. Staying out all day making certain to get snacks and share them and drinking from the same soda bottle and then back on their bikes, or jumping rope until parents called for them to come in---it was past dark! Oh, the stories that were shared to all of us over

the years! There was not a story that was not filled with laughter and comments like: “What happened? You survived that? What did you do that for? I bet that was fun! Did you get in trouble? Huh, your Mom and Dad just shook their heads? That was it”?

The little Gilbert girls were always together at the Gilbert Family Farm in Holbrook---their second home, but always their forever home. The summers were always fun of just being together. They helped work the family farm and had the best home cooked meals. Their aunts: Ellie, Bernice and Hildred loved those kids and when they stayed the summers it was wonderful for all of them. Those meals were presented on a lovely cloth covered table with fresh flowers always arranged in an old, chipped, clear mason jar, actual plates and silverware-- -yes, just for the kids---they were people too! There was always cool water from the spring or fresh milk. The scents of warm, fresh homemade bread with chilled butter and jam. Fresh vegetables were prepared with love---the kids loved snapping those green beans! It was such an innocent time, filled with financial hardships and other struggles for every family, but they all were family and family always helped each other. The kiddos helped too, just as much. They understood hard work, and they worked together without complaining. They made it fun! To this day, those remaining reflect how much they enjoyed growing up and being together: the love and devotion of family and friends. What a precious gift. Their best buds would always be there in the summer time too. They were the other Gilbert kids: Mabel, Jimmy and Kenneth, as well as the Grimes boys: Terry, Roy and Roger. They all loved each other and always took care of one another.

Our favorite redheaded gal was also known as Zenie, Zenie-Beanie, Lady Jane, Zinnia, the Big Z (as in Zorro!), Zenie, Warrior Princess. Her first mode of transportation were her short, skinny legs, then she moved on swiftly to the three wheeler and then the two wheeler speeding around the streets and sidewalks of Rogersville like she owned the place! She was known for her unique driving skills and abilities. She perfected those rare talents and moved on to the more powerful machine she didn’t have to peddle---the four wheeler. Those who have been gifted the opportunity to be a passenger in her four wheeler will attest to the power she possessed in that accelerator foot of hers. Yes, we all have lived to tell about the adventures although, at times, the trauma emerges from the past--- especially for the very strong military men in our family. It has taken time, but those brave men who have experienced bootcamp, skirmishes and major battles have since recovered! You need only experience it to understand. There really are no words. There was one event that she appeared to have difficulty comprehending and it was very frustrating for her: following her Aunt Montine onto the Atlanta Beltway. She made so many loops around that beltway until she finally became free of it all. She still talked about that ----never really got over it either!

Zenie attended school at the former Rogersville/Center Twp locations, but finished her education graduating from Claysville High School in 1957 with her sister Carolyn. After graduation, she returned to Greene County and moved in with her Aunts: Ella, Bernice and Hildred at the Gilbert family farm in Holbrook. She began working immediately at the South Penn Telephone Company in Waynesburg. At that time she was assigned to switchboard duties and making certain all the calls went through to their requested destinations. Years later, Zenia moved into Waynesburg to be closer to work. With transitions of phone company mergers, the original South Penn became known as Mid-Penn, Alltel and Windstream. Through these transitions she was promoted to various capacities such as: repair and dispatch coordinator, pairs assignments and overall lineman protocol and office administration. The linemen always referred to her as “Our Girl Zenie or Our Girl Friday”. Her role was extremely important. She knew all of the remote back roads, even when they really were not roads, in the area and guided the linemen to their destinations in unfamiliar territory. The linemen knew that if Zenia had not received communication from them or they did not return to the office at a certain time that she knew exactly where they were, road or not, she would come fetch them home! They loved their girl! That was her most favorite job: working with all the linemen to allow residents the gift of telephone service, especially those in the back woods “hollow” country. She retired from Alltel in 1999. Till her final breath she always feared people would not have phone service, especially in their time of greatest need. After all these years, she would speak all the codes for the linemen regarding dispatch and repair. To every employee at the phone company over the 42 years of her dedicated service, you meant so much to her. You were her family. She never forgot any of you. She loved all you guys.

Zenia was involved in so many activities throughout her life. She was a very talented painter. She had a natural gift for it, and class trained by prominent local artist Carol Randolph. She took ceramic classes over at Gloria’s in Rogersville for years. She was the official family and work photographer. Jokingly, she took so many pictures for so many people for so long, that it was rumored that she was the official photographer at Chuck and Di’s wedding! She made many gifts by crochet, embroidery, hairpin lace, macramé, sewing, quilting and also jewelry making. Her other interests were family genealogy, collections of anything historical and that held sentimental value. She held important positions in various societies, as well as the Gasco Club and Cornerstone Genealogical Society. She loved to travel with her Mom and the girls from work. She traveled most of the United States and made it to the Grand Canyon. She enjoyed going to Ocean City, Rehobeth Beach and the Carolinas especially where the wild ponies grazed. She went to Gettysburg and Antietam and learning as much history as she could, yet being so overwhelmingly moved by all the loss. So many lives sacrificed. So much loss.

As much as she loved traveling with her friends, the best part of all was what the Gilbert’s would say was “good eats”. They would stop at Miss Blue’s back in the day over in Hundred or some remote diner along the highway. There would be diners on back roads or even local church socials with their friends and families. Miss Blue’s was her favorite and Zenia, Aunt Ella and Aunt Hildred would lift Aunt Bernice into the car and they headed toward Miss Blue’s. Aunt Bernice had a stroke in her early 30’s and was confined to a wheelchair. Miss Blue’s was the closest and they always had their lunches outside on the picnic table---where Aunt Bernice’s wheelchair would fit. What a gift that was for all them to be together and they all worked together so Aunt Bernice could be included too.

Zenia was known for always remembering those whom may have been forgotten about as life’s circumstances change. She always sent cards telling those individuals she was thinking about them and always praying for them. She never forgot anyone. She always sent birthday cards to friends and family and Easter and Christmas cards to everyone she knew. She was always there for people and never expected anything in return. That is who our sweet girl was and what an example of humility and love. Jesus just shined through her. What an awesome Witness and what an awesome life. She is our very own gift from God: James 1:17 All good and perfect gifts come from above---that is our Zenia.

There are so many more stories to tell. Too many to share with you here. We wish those of you who did not know her could have. Her legacy of faith, her humble and powerful Witness reflected an awesome life. We just love her so much and so grateful the Lord allowed us to have her. What she must be experiencing now…seeing Jesus holding His hand, and all the reunions. How happy she is, so very, very happy to be Home. It has been a long walk Home.

She is survived by her nieces Cheryl and Debbie and their families, nephew Michael and niece Tina. Her Gilbert cousins: Jimmy and daughter Susan, Natalie (Chris), Jennifer and George. The Grimes cousins: Terry and Carlyn, Linda, Renee and families. Dear friends: Kathy-bug, Cathy C.,

Violet, Ellan, Scott, Teresa and Olivia, Valerie P. and Heather (Doug). Her forever neighbors: Connie (Don), Ione (Cliff), Linda, Kirk and Lynn. She was always so very grateful to have good friends so close by.

Those who passed before her including her parents are her sisters and their husbands: Carolyn and Bill Hixenbaugh, Montine and Blaine Clutter, niece Nancy, Cousins: Mabel (Tom), Suzanne and Karen, Kenneth and Nancy, Roy and Roger. Her dearest friends; Rose, Laura, Betty Ann, Sue, Carol and Fuzzy, Perry and Myrt and her best bud Paul.

Special heartfelt appreciation to: Dr. and Mrs. Praful Vora, Dr. Bridgette Sapko, Dr. Dennis Brown, and Dr. Rebecca Plute, Rhonda, Jackie, Cassie, Danielle, Savannah, Hope, Katie and Marie.

Special thanks to Arletta for always sending Zenia cards and praying for her and Denise for always asking about her and always taking such good care of Violet and Zenia years ago over the hospital.

Special thanks to Michael, Natalie and Chris and Terry and Carlyn.

Friends and family will be received on Friday, July 31, 2026 from 10-2 PM at Kesterson-Rush Funeral Home, LLC. 3275 W. Roy Furman Hwy. PO Box 434 Rogersville, PA 15359. Telephone: 724-499-5181, where the funeral service will be held directly after with Terry Grimes, officiating. Burial will follow at Rosemont Cemetery.

The family requests no floral arrangements or gift memorials. Please consider making a donation in Zenia’s name to: SecondSamNine located at 100 Bonar Ave. Waynesburg, PA 15370 and/or The Gideons of Greene County P.O. Box 732 Waynesburg PA 15370.