Gatha Wilson, at age 95 years, passed through the veil being greeted by her family on 18 July 2024 in Kanab, Utah.
Gatha was the second child born on the 24 October 1928, in Antonito, Conejos, Colorado to James Edward Bingham (known as Ted) and Cora Emily Dunn Bingham. Gatha’s siblings in order of birth were Keith Edward Bingham, Teddy Leon Bingham, Barabara Ann Bingham, Cora LaRue Bingham, and Doris Faye Bingham. All were born in Manassa, Colorado except for Gatha.
She lived with her family in the towns of Manassa, Antonito, Saguache, and Romeo, Colorado. She called Romeo home. Before that, she lived on a ranch located 2 and a half miles south of Romeo and two and a half miles north of Antonito. She attended school and church in Romeo. She would attend movies and go shopping in Antonito. Her Mother died in 1944 after being hurt in a farming accident, where an infection in her leg took her life. Gatha’s Dad was left to care for six children by himself, however, much of the responsibility was Gatha’s as the oldest daughter.
Gatha and her good friend Nona (Camp) Provost double dated in high school until both couples were married after wards. In 1946, she married Donald Arlo Vance on the 30th of Mar 1946, in the home of Gatha’s grandparents, Simeon and Annie Dunn. Arlo returned from serving in the medical corps during WWII and spent a lot of time in the Philippines. Gatha and Nona remained friends for all of their lives and we are sure there is some catching up in store for them.
Arlo and Gatha’s first home was a small house own by his older sister, Isabel. This house was next door to Arlo’s mother Rosey Verdeame (Beals) Vance. Then for a while they lived with Grandmother Vance until Arlo went to work for Ed Guymon, and lived in a house on the Guymon property outside of LaJara, Colorado where they started their family with children.
After Gatha’s Dad died in July, 1946, Gatha’s youngest sister, Doris Faye, eight years old, came to live with them. Gatha moved from the Guymon home to the Ross house near Bountiful, Colorado where they lived for a year before moving to a farm near Romeo. While there Arlo was injured and Gatha had to move the family. She took her little family and moved to Manassa, Colorado. In Manassa, she got a job in the hot lunch system at the local school to support herself and her family until her husband returned to health.
Gatha has had many callings and served three missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints over the years where she found great joy in serving. She had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ. She was a very talented person who helped support her family by sewing and did upholsery. She enjoyed oil painting, and being in the mountains. She figured how to fixed things around the house when necessary.
The greatest joy of Gatha’s heart has been her family. Gatha had Aunts and Uncles who very were close to her after her parents died. Gatha also enjoyed being with her brothers and sisters. There were times when each of her sisters, who were in need, were invited to live in the home of Arlo and Gatha. She also entertained Arlo’s brothers and sisters and loved them dearly. Some of them also came and shared Gatha’s and Arlo’s home as well. She had several diffent nephews come live with her at times as well. She would give hugs and kisses to family and friends.
Arlo and Gatha served a mission together to the Indians in the Holbrook Arizona Mission in 1983. Upon their return from their mission, about 2 months, Arlo suffered a fatal heart attack that took his life. It was a hard time for Gatha. She worked for a time in the county library in LaJara, served on the hospital board then eventually moved to Mesa, Arizona. She took care of several elderly ladies in Mesa and served in the Mesa Arizona Temple. She moved to Saint George, Utah where she lived with her mother’s sister, Ina (Dunn) Olsen, helping her care for her husband Henry Olsen and served in the St. George Temple.
While in St George she met and married Ward Porter Wilson on 7 August 1993. Ward and Gatha lived in a nice home about a block east of the Saint Geoge Temple. Gatha enjoyed Ward and the kind way he treated her. It was really hard for her when he passed away on 9 Mar 2000. Gatha stayed in her home as long as she could, then eventually went to live with her daughter, Bonnie Lynn (Vance) Olsen in California with whom she had a close relationship. When it eventually due to health became necessary, for Don and Gloria Vance to step in and took care of her in Kanab, Utah until she needed residential care, where received Hospice and professional medical care.
She passed away in Kanab, Utah at the Skilled Nursing Facility with Don and Gloria present at her side on 18 July 2024.
Gatha was survived by her children: Don (Gloria) Vance of Kanab, Utah, Kent (Betty) Vance of Rapid City, South Dakota, Bonnie Olsen, of Santa Maria, California, and Larry (Jeanette) Vance of Eagle Mountain, Utah also with 18 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Her immediate family preceeded her in death.
The family offers a special thanks for all the great people who helped care for Gatha, namely Zion’s Way Hospice, the Skilled Nursing Facility in Kanab, and Spilsbury Mortuary in St George, Utah, and Mosdell Mortuary. There is more history of her life which can be found in Familysearch.org under Gatha Bingham.
The funeral service was held in Manassa, Colorado at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Main Street with viewing from 9:00 am to 10:45 am and the funeral service at 11:00 am on Friday, July 26th.
Gatha was a dear and kind woman whose compassionate and unconditional love was unsurpassed. Her love was immediately felt whenever in her presence. A light of love has gone out in this world but her light is now shared to many beyond the veil. Our condolences go to her family. She was well loved and will be missed.
Sorry to hear of Gatha’s passing.
We were 2nd cousins and she was My second counselor in Mutual when in Manassa.
Condolences to all the family