Lillian Genevieve Fitch was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, to Arthur DeWitt and Myrtle (Ball) Fitch. She was an only child for nine years, when a baby brother, John DeWitt, was born. Two years later a sister, Joy Darline, was born, and when Lillian was 18 another sister, Olive Elaine, came along.
Lillian Genevieve was named after her maternal grandmother, Lillie, and her paternal grandmother, Genevieve, but was always known by her middle name, Genevieve.
Genevieve's main love in life was music. She took piano lessons from a noted teacher when the family moved to southern California, and throughout her life she took Pipe Organ lessons and eventually studied at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. Although she worked for a few years as a stenographer at the Sears Catalog Headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, for most of her life she was a piano and organ teacher. For thirty years she was the staff organist at Moline Gospel Temple, a "mega" church in Moline, Illinois. Eventually, due to severe osteoporosis, she had to retire from playing the pipe organ, but continued to teach piano in her home for several more years. She was a long-term member of the American Guild of Organists.
In 1985 Genevieve's sister and brother-in-law, Joy and Art Larson, moved her from Illinois to their home in Santa Barbara, California where they cared for her for four years until her death. She was completely bed-ridden, but still enjoyed playing an electronic keyboard placed atop her over-the-bed table. She also spent time corresponding with friends and family during those years.
Although she never married or had children of her own, she adored her four nephews and two nieces, and was always proud of their accomplishments.
Bio courtesy of Elaine (Fitch) Vinzant
Lillian Genevieve was named after her maternal grandmother, Lillie, and her paternal grandmother, Genevieve, but was always known by her middle name, Genevieve.
Genevieve's main love in life was music. She took piano lessons from a noted teacher when the family moved to southern California, and throughout her life she took Pipe Organ lessons and eventually studied at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. Although she worked for a few years as a stenographer at the Sears Catalog Headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, for most of her life she was a piano and organ teacher. For thirty years she was the staff organist at Moline Gospel Temple, a "mega" church in Moline, Illinois. Eventually, due to severe osteoporosis, she had to retire from playing the pipe organ, but continued to teach piano in her home for several more years. She was a long-term member of the American Guild of Organists.
In 1985 Genevieve's sister and brother-in-law, Joy and Art Larson, moved her from Illinois to their home in Santa Barbara, California where they cared for her for four years until her death. She was completely bed-ridden, but still enjoyed playing an electronic keyboard placed atop her over-the-bed table. She also spent time corresponding with friends and family during those years.
Although she never married or had children of her own, she adored her four nephews and two nieces, and was always proud of their accomplishments.
Bio courtesy of Elaine (Fitch) Vinzant
Lillian Genevieve Fitch was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, to Arthur DeWitt and Myrtle (Ball) Fitch. She was an only child for nine years, when a baby brother, John DeWitt, was born. Two years later a sister, Joy Darline, was born, and when Lillian was 18 another sister, Olive Elaine, came along.
Lillian Genevieve was named after her maternal grandmother, Lillie, and her paternal grandmother, Genevieve, but was always known by her middle name, Genevieve.
Genevieve's main love in life was music. She took piano lessons from a noted teacher when the family moved to southern California, and throughout her life she took Pipe Organ lessons and eventually studied at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. Although she worked for a few years as a stenographer at the Sears Catalog Headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, for most of her life she was a piano and organ teacher. For thirty years she was the staff organist at Moline Gospel Temple, a "mega" church in Moline, Illinois. Eventually, due to severe osteoporosis, she had to retire from playing the pipe organ, but continued to teach piano in her home for several more years. She was a long-term member of the American Guild of Organists.
In 1985 Genevieve's sister and brother-in-law, Joy and Art Larson, moved her from Illinois to their home in Santa Barbara, California where they cared for her for four years until her death. She was completely bed-ridden, but still enjoyed playing an electronic keyboard placed atop her over-the-bed table. She also spent time corresponding with friends and family during those years.
Although she never married or had children of her own, she adored her four nephews and two nieces, and was always proud of their accomplishments.
Bio courtesy of Elaine (Fitch) Vinzant
Lillian Genevieve was named after her maternal grandmother, Lillie, and her paternal grandmother, Genevieve, but was always known by her middle name, Genevieve.
Genevieve's main love in life was music. She took piano lessons from a noted teacher when the family moved to southern California, and throughout her life she took Pipe Organ lessons and eventually studied at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. Although she worked for a few years as a stenographer at the Sears Catalog Headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, for most of her life she was a piano and organ teacher. For thirty years she was the staff organist at Moline Gospel Temple, a "mega" church in Moline, Illinois. Eventually, due to severe osteoporosis, she had to retire from playing the pipe organ, but continued to teach piano in her home for several more years. She was a long-term member of the American Guild of Organists.
In 1985 Genevieve's sister and brother-in-law, Joy and Art Larson, moved her from Illinois to their home in Santa Barbara, California where they cared for her for four years until her death. She was completely bed-ridden, but still enjoyed playing an electronic keyboard placed atop her over-the-bed table. She also spent time corresponding with friends and family during those years.
Although she never married or had children of her own, she adored her four nephews and two nieces, and was always proud of their accomplishments.
Bio courtesy of Elaine (Fitch) Vinzant
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