Mrs. Gilstrap was born in Six Mile, SC on March 17, 1938 to the late Ace and Bertha Garrett Julian. She spent her life as a soldering technician, first with Pratt Reed, then Sangamo, and finally retiring from NCR / AT&T. Mrs. Gilstrap was a loving wife, mother, and nana, who was a devoted spouse to Wallace for 64 years. She also had a true motherly instinct, and that allowed her to stay home for the first 15 years of her son's life. When she finally went back to work, she still took care of her family and friends alike, making sure they were fed, taken care of when they were sick, and even being the family doctor that made everyone feel better. She truly thought of others before herself, and will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Mrs. Gilstrap was a member of Smith Chapel Wesleyan Church (Now Hilltop Wesleyan) in Liberty.
In addition to her loving husband of 64 years, Mrs. Gilstrap is survived by a son: James A. Gilstrap (Teresa) of Liberty; two grandchildren: Levi Gilstrap of Liberty and Jessica Burry (Michael) of Liberty; a sister: Martha Hart of Greer; and many loving nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Gilstrap was preceded in death by three sisters: Pauline Julian, Lenora Maxie, and Elizabeth Bolding; and three brothers-in-law; Horace Maxie, Donald Bolding, and JB Hart.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Friday, November 3, 2023 in the Chapel of Dillard Funeral Home with interment to follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Thursday, November 2, 2023 at Dillard Funeral Home.
The family is at the residence.
The family wishes to extend a special thanks to the Staff of Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital, especially her doctors and nurses, as well as Prisma Health Hospice of the Foothills for their love, care, and concern for their whole family during Mrs. Gilstrap's final days.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to either Prisma Health Hospice of the Foothills: 390 Keowee School Road, Seneca, SC 29672; or to Hilltop Wesleyan Church: 735 Golden Creek Rd, Liberty, SC 29657.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.dillardfunerals.com. Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
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