Elizabeth Kay Gunter, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and daughter passed away on Friday June 30th, at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. A memorial service celebrating her life will take place at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, July 5th at Fellowship Bible Church located at 3217 Middle Rd, Winchester, VA 22602. The family will receive friends and loved ones from 6:00 – 8:00 PM on Monday, July 3rd, at Omps Funeral Home located at 1600 Amherst St., Winchester, VA 22601.
Kay was born in Columbia, South Carolina and graduated from the very first class of Airport High School. She earned a B.S. degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of South Carolina. In addition to defining, perfecting, and honoring the profession of homemaking across a dedicated, 55-year career, Kay, was a tireless volunteer and political activist. She was a member of the Board of Directors for ABBA Pregnancy Care Center, a Volunteer with F.I.S.H. of Clarke County, President of the Winchester-Frederick-Clarke Republican Women’s Club, President of the Clarke County Republican Committee, Member of the State Central Committee Republican Party of Virginia, and a Delegate for the Republican National Convention.
Surviving are her loving husband, Samuel B. Gunter; her children, Samuel Gunter, Helen Lawyer, and Shandon Gunter; her mother, Helen Kirkland; her brothers, Ed Kirkland, Dan Kirkland, and Stan Kirkland; her sister, Rhonda Kirkland; and her many grandchildren, Kelly Cabana, Kimberly Ford, Benjamin Lawyer, William Lawyer, Trey Gunter, Beth Gunter, and Haley Gunter.
Kay was preceded in death by her birth mother, Mary Alice Kirkland; her father, Lloyd Edward Kirkland; her brother, Dean Proctor; and her sisters Cynthia Mae Kirkland and Annette Parnell.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Kay’s memory to Fellowship Bible Church (3217 Middle Rd, Winchester, VA 22602) and West Side Baptist Church (2100 Platt Springs Road, West Columbia, SC 29169).