Wynona Weeks Genco

Wynona Weeks Genco of Santee, South Carolina, and Frederick, Maryland passed away March 25, 2023. She completed her life at the age of 99, and was blessed with good health, a creative mind, and indomitable spirit for all those years.

Wynona grew up in the small farming community of Lone Star, South Carolina, where her family has lived for many generations. Lone Star is a beautiful part of the state, with lush fields and pine forests, and where life centers around Pine Grove Lutheran Church.

Wynona attended elementary and high school not far from her family farm. The red brick schoolhouse no longer exists, but she remained friends with her classmates and so many others in Lone Star throughout her life.

She went to Winthrop College in Rock Hill, South Carolina in 19 40–41, and with her artistic nature, planned on a career in interior decoration.

While at Winthrop, she met her future husband, Jasper (Jack) J. Genco from Bristol, Pennsylvania. He was in South Carolina training for service in the US Army.

After World War II ended, Jack and Wynona married at Pine Grove Church in 1945. They had three children, traveled, and lived in many countries as Jack continued his military career. Wynona raised her children, was active in Eastern Star,  and worked when work was available. During this time, she was responsible for opening and  administering the very first drop-off daycare center on an army base in Japan.

In 1966 they settled in Maryland, while Jack worked for the US government. Wynona managed a military credit union on base at Fort Meade,  and continued her life long love of gardening and pursuit of the arts-painting, doll construction, and especially needlework.

Jack retired from government service in 1984, and they moved to Santee, South Carolina. This move back to her beloved South Carolina, enabled her to spend many precious years with her family there and to reconnect with old friends.

Jack died in 1989, but Wynona continued to live in Santee for 23 years before moving back north to be with her children.

Wynona Weeks was born the day after Christmas in 1923 to William Geradeaux Weeks and Bertha Sturgeon Weeks.

She is survived by her loving children, William G. Genco, Cynthia W. Genco, and Maria S Tuskweth and husband Anthony; cherished grandchildren, Nicole Dancause, Rebecca Rininger and Colby Jackson, Jordan Kressley Genco, and Gabriel Smithson; & seven great-grandchildren, Savannah, London, Cali, Maya, Summer, Luc and Gabrielle.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Wynona was preceded in death by her brothers, Jabie Weeks, James Weeks, William Weeks, and Frank Weeks.

Service and interment for Wynona Genco will be held privately at Pine Grove Lutheran Church in Lone Star, South Carolina.

Messages of condolence may be left for the family at Keeney & Basford Funeral Homes, P.A., 106 E. Church St., Frederick, MD 21701

www.keeneybasford.com

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Frederick Animal Adoption Center, 1832 Rosemont Ave., Frederick, MD 21702, www.ffocas.org