Genevieve (Jimmie) Ruth Held, 86, passed serenely on Thursday, April 21, 2016 in San Antonio, Texas after a long illness. Jimmie was born in Mechanicsburg, Pa. on June 30, 1929 to an army family. Her parents were Calvin, an officer in the U.S. Army, and Olive Burtner. She grew up during hard times and was involved in an extended family that shaped her dedication to family values. After traveling due to military reassignment, spending the WW II years at New Cumberland Army Depot in Pa. and graduated high school in Mechanicsburg, Pa. She thought about being an English teacher but instead dedicated herself to being a full time housewife with her career minded military husband. Though her focus was on a loving and stable home, she loved to read, garden, and later in life enjoyed playing tennis. Her siblings were Louise (Weezy), Doris, Calvin Jr, and Robert. At the completion of WW II, her father was assigned to occupation forces in Heidelberg, Germany where she met and quickly fell in love with her husband, SGT James H. Held. They were married on June 10, 1950 in Heidelberg, Germany. Later in life, they were fortunate to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in 2000 in Heidelberg. Her knowledge
and background of military life was an asset to her husband and they lived a happy life and did travel. Most of the military assignments were stateside in Michigan and Kansas before Jim’s retiring from the military as a CSM and moving to Ludington, MI., Houston, TX and then permanently in San Antonio, TX.
They loved to travel in the motor home. Jim died in 2003 and she missed him greatly.
She is survived by her sons William (wife Jill) and David (wife Traci), four grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. Mom, Grandma and Great-grandma will be missed. God speed.
The family will receive friends at Sunset Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 from 6-8 p.m. Interment services at Fort Sam Houston will be private.
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