Ramona Gililland

Funeral services for Ramona Gililland, 78, a quintessential homemaker cum successful business woman, will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, February 3, at the Smithville Church of Christ. She passed away Thursday, February 1, in her home in Smithville.

Born September 22, 1939, on the cusp of World War II in Dublin, Texas, oldest of eight children, Ramona gained an early vision of running a household from parents who learned how to make the best of what they had during the Great Depression.

She grew up in and around Fort Worth and graduated from Boyd High School, where she received a college scholarship for winning first place in the state Future Homemakers of America contest.

Ramona took pride in earning a degree in homemaking from her mother’s alma mater, which had changed its name when her mother was there and again while Ramona was a student: from the College of Industrial Arts to Texas State College for Women in 1934 and then to Texas Woman’s University in 1957.

While still in college, Ramona married her high school sweetheart Lyndel Gililland. She finished her degree at TWU while Lyndel earned his degree and a commission in the United States Air Force through the ROTC Program at North Texas State College.

As an Air Force wife, she went with Lyndel on this 3-year assignment in Germany, where their daughter Lisa was born. Later, she kept the home fires burning while Lyndel flew a B-52 bomber over enemy territory during the Vietnam War and afterward when he flew as a commercial pilot for Braniff and other airlines. After he retired from the Air Force, they enjoyed running a quarter horse ranch together.

In her later years, Ramona developed an antique business and combed the country for special finds for her booth at various downtown locations in Smithville, most recently in Dream Train Antiques.A two-decade member of the Fayette County Quilters, she was active in the Smithville Chamber of Commerce and served as chair of the finance committee for the Smithville Church of Christ.

A world traveler and lover of British history, she especially enjoyed touring historical sites in England, Ireland, and Scotland and researching Scottish genealogy with her daughter Lisa. After Ramona and her brother Don had lost their spouses, they traveled together to visit their sister Cami in Australia.

Ramona was preceded in death by her husband Lyndel, her son Air Force Maj. Robert Gililland, and her parents, Donald and Mattie Box. She is survived by her daughter Lisa Gililland and fiancée Thomas Williams of Terral, OK; three grandsons, Garrett Leisy and wife Brittany, Leyton Leisy, both of Fort Worth, and Tommy Joe Leisy Jr. of Moore, OK; seven siblings, Don Michael Box of Richland Hills, Marquita Moss of Austin, Melany Shook of Arlington, Tahna Cody and husband John Bob of Nacogdoches, Jon Lee Box and wife Lynn of Alabama, Camille Moore and husband John of Australia, and Roberta Gayle Garza and husband Chano of Georgia; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation will be 4:00-7:00 p.m. Friday at the All Faiths of the Pines Funeral Home at 110 American Legion Rd in Smithville.  Don Box will officiate at the funeral, and John Bob Cody will preside at graveside services at the Dye Mound Cemetery in St. Jo, TX.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Brentwood Christian School, 11908 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78753.