Ursula Johns Gill

Ursula Johns Gill died on the evening of Thursday, February 21, 2013, at the Nix Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. During her final years, Ursula fought off two separate bouts of lung cancer, smiling all the while. She succumbed to an abrupt episode of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, at the end of a long and happy life. Ursula leaves two sons, James Allan Gill Jr., Austin; and Glover Johns Gill, Smithville; their wives, respectively, Kathy Panak and Judy Masliyah; and sister-in-law and close friend, Nora Gill of San Antonio. Born on June 23, 1925, to U.S. Army Col. Glover Johns and Dolly Johns, Ursula spent a happy childhood and youth with her parents and her older sister, Pamela Johns, mostly in Hawaii and San Antonio. She attended Alamo Heights High School; was Army Duchess at Order of the Alamo’s Queen Coronation; studied at Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri; pledged Pi Beta Phi; and earned a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Texas, Austin (1946). Ursula taught grade school for a few years, then married petroleum engineer James Allan Gill and set about raising a family. This phase took her from San Antonio to New Orleans, Lafayette, and Houston. Once her sons were grown, Ursula followed her mother, Dolly’s example and dealt in antiques. Later she went into real estate brokerage, which occupied her until retirement. At the demise of sister, Pamela Johns Neathery, Ursula relocated to San Antonio, after nearly four decades in Houston. Graveside services will take place Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Park. Condolences may be offered at http://www.sunsetfuneralhomesa.com/.