February 15, 1921 – July 21, 2012
Gladys Gentry Burks Bielaski passed away peacefully at Tryon Estates in Columbus. She was a long-time resident of Tryon and had previously lived in Weston, Mass. and West Hartford, Conn. Gentry was the daughter of Peter D. Burks and Gladys Gentry Burks of Charlotte, N.C. She attended Queens College and graduated from Agnes Scott College in Georgia.
Her husband of 63 years, Robert C. Bielaski, preceded her in death in 2007.
She is survived by her three children: Susan Cary Bielaski Bluford; Robert C. Bielaski Jr. and his spouse, Karen Cahill Bielaski, and her only grandchild, Alexandra Cahill Bielaski, and Bruce Burks Bielaski. She is also survived by her brother, Peter T. Burks; her sister, June Reeves, preceded her in death in May.
During her entire life, Gentry was an active volunteer in the communities where she lived, including the Junior League of Hartford, Grey Lodge Home for Women, Weston and Tryon garden clubs, Asylum Hill Church activities, Cub Scout leader and many more activities.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Tryon Congregational Church at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012.
Donations in her memory may be sent to either Hospice of the Carolinas, 130 Forest Glen Dr., Columbus, N.C. 28722, or Foothills Humane Society Inc., 989 Little Mountain Rd., Columbus, N.C. 28722.
The family would like to thank the loving staff at Tryon Estates and especially Dr. Brad Whitney for the care Mom received during her last years.
An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.
McFarland Funeral Chapel, Tryon.