Henry E. Gilliland, 88, of Coalton, Ohio, went home with his Lord on Friday morning, June 8, 2012, at his home.
He was born in Lick Township, Jackson, Ohio, on August 9, 1923, son of the late Charles Emerson Gilliland and Murvle Winifred Leach Gilliland. He was a 1941 graduate of Coalton High School and a six-year WW II U.S. Navy veteran. He was employed as a sewing machine mechanic for the Hercules Trouser Co. later called Kuppenheimer, where he worked 7-1/2 years in Jackson, and from where he retired in 1985 in Wellston after 26 years. He was a member of the Fellowship United Methodist Church, where he was a former superintendent and Sunday school teacher. He was a former mechanic at Dallas Chevrolet for three years. He was a member of #81 American Legion Jefferson Howell, VFW 8402, and DAV. Henry was so active in his community that there is not enough room to list all of his accomplishments at this time, but he was a former mayor of Coalton, very active in the Jackson County Republican Party, member of the Coalton Historical Society, and through the Coalton Volunteer Fire Dept., where he was chaplain, helped see that flags were placed on veterans’ graves in the Coalton Cemetery and other area cemeteries.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Alice Stiffler Gilliland in 1988; a son, Roger Dean Gilliland in 2007; a grandson, Jeremy Gilliland; a great-grandson, Caleb Gilliland; five brothers, Emerson, Lester, Chester, Thomas, and Lewis; two sisters, Evelyn Warner and Mary Scott.
Surviving are two sons, Keith (Mary) Gilliland of Jackson and Larry (Ester) Gilliland of Ashville, OH; one daughter, Peggy (John) Frisby of Wellston; daughter-in-law, Carolyn Gilliland of Coalton; two sisters, Anna Mae Cupp of Columbus, OH, and Alice Marie Hasty of Dayton, OH; ten grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild; several nieces and nephews; and close sister-in-law and caregiver, Margaret Smith of Coalton.
Friends may call at the Jenkins Funeral Chapel in Wellston on Monday from 2 until 8 p.m. followed by a Firemen’s Service. Services will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Jenkins Chapel with Reverends James McFadden and Everett Ward officiating. Henry’s final resting place will be in the Coalton Greenlawn Memory Gardens with military services by American Legion Post #371 of Wellston. The family suggests memorial contributions can be made in Henry’s memory to the Fellowship United Methodist Church.