Roberta Tressie Gause Gannon, 96-years old, died peacefully in her sleep December 21, 2022, following an illness. Her family was at her side.
She was born at her grand parents house in Williamsburg County, SC, and raised on the family farm in Gause Town, Kingstree, SC. She has been married to Lt. Col. (Retired) Roland “Rocky” Gannon, from Ocean City, N.J., for 71 years. They met in Sumter, while Rocky was stationed at Shaw A.F.B. and she was working as a long distance telephone operator. During their marriage, she spent 30 years as a U.S. Air Force Officer’s wife, traveling the world, living in France for four years and in Germany for six years. She learned to speak several languages and learned to cook the food from many countries. She was well known for her melodic laugh and spunky personality. She devoted her life to her husband, children and grandchildren. She enjoyed bowling, golfing, snow skiing and traveling. She was able to visit most countries in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. She also visited Hong Kong. For the last 30 years she and Rocky spent their summers in his hometown of Ocean City, N.J.
She is survived by her husband, Lt. Col. Rocky Gannon, her three children: Michael T. Gannon (Annette) of Minneapolis, MN, Patricia A. Balazs of Darlington, SC and Mary Beth Gannon-Green of Fredericksburg, VA; her grand children: Christina Gannon of Minneapolis, MN, Dr. David Gannon of Chicago, IL, Jennifer Gannon of Honolulu, HI, Lt. Col. Benjamin M. Balazs (Elizabeth) of Raleigh, NC, Joseph A. Balazs (Kaede) of Seattle, WA, James M. Balazs of Darlington, SC, Angel N. Jordan of Darlington SC, Paul Luc Chokota of Dallas, TX, Patrick R. Green (Brianna) of Nashville, TN, and Samantha A. Green of Darlington, SC. She is also survived by her great-grand children: Isabel R. and Braden M. Balazs of Raleigh, NC, Isla B. Balazs of Seattle, WA; USN PO3 Michael H. Jordan of Norfolk, VA, Jada B. Jordan of Darlington, SC, Jennica and Micah Wilson of Nashville, TN; and her great-great grandson, Bentley Dunn of Darlington, SC. She is also survived by her two sisters, Myrtle Powell Smith (Bobby) of Kingstree, SC, Vivian Cooper of Lugoff, SC, as well as her sister-in-law, Nancy Gause of Kingstree. She adored all her nieces and nephews.
Roberta was the oldest of ten children. She is predeceased by her parents: her father, Hobson R. Gause, her mother, Ella Burrows Gause and her stepmother, Leola M. Gause. She is also predeceased by all of her brothers: T. Raleigh Gause (Matti), Clarence Gause (Laura), Marion Gause, Douglas Gause, Norman Gause, and Buford C. Gause.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Darlington Veterans Memorial or for the Aviator Memorial at the Florence Veterans Park.
A visitation will be held in Belk Funeral Home from 6:00pm until 8:00pm Wednesday, December 28. A graveside service will be held the following day at Florence National Cemetery at 2:00pm.
