Evelyn Gene Ghearing, 99, passed in the early morning hours of April 25, 2026, with her beloved daughter-in-law, Carolina, at her side. Evelyn was born Dec. 26, 1926, in Cleveland. Though she had strong roots in Minnesota, as a child she moved to Wellston, Ohio.
Evelyn and George Raymond Ghearing met as children and shortly after graduation from high school they married. It was July 10, 1943. While the timing of George’s career was put on hold due to World War II, the war changed his career plans and thus changed Evelyn’s life plans.
George and Evelyn welcomed their firstborn son, Gerry, in 1951 and then Gilbert was born in 1954. The Ghearings were blessed with 8 grandchildren.
Additionally, George and Evelyn developed a large surrogate family of “sons” and “daughters”: Chester, Joyce, Larry, Marcia, Pita, Rudy, Shirley and Ed.
While living in Celina, George and Evelyn joined a small group of friends enrolling in extension classes offered by Ohio Northern University. George received his degree in business in 1965. Evelyn soon joined him and graduated in less than three years with a degree in education. She began her teaching career while George traveled the world on assignments with GTE.
George was transferred to GTE’s state headquarters in Marion in 1963 and Evelyn soon became employed by the Marion City Schools as an elementary teacher, retiring in 1979. George followed in 1983. Retirement did not last long for this industrious couple as they founded GRG Telecommunications, Inc. in 1984. George continued to travel the world on behalf of their new venture while Evelyn managed the company in the United States.
When possible, Evelyn joined George and even spent time with him in her beloved Argentina. George and Evelyn eventually retired from their entrepreneurial adventure in 2002.
Evelyn loved the outdoors and her beautifully tended flowers. Her retirement included the maintaining of 20 acres of roses and flowers at their home in southern Marion County.
Service to the Marion community was always a large part of Evelyn and George’s life. Strong advocates of education, they supported The Ohio State University in a number of ways, The couple contributed to projects in Morrill Hall and Maynard Hall and were honored by the naming of the Gilbert and Gerry Ghearing Development Suite. They endowed the Evelyn and George Ghearing Scholarship benefiting students majoring in education, engineering, or business. Due to their impact on education, the Ghearings were honored as recipients of the Ralph Howard Service Award in 2012, given annually by the Marion campus of The Ohio State University.
They have supported the Marion Family YMCA for a number of years as well as many other community organizations. They were faithful members of the Cornerstone Alliance Church.
In the past few years, George’s declining health changed their service to the community, but their love and devotion to each other made them stronger. The care Evelyn provided to George enhanced his life enabling them to celebrate over 76 years of marriage before George’s passing in 2019.
Son, Gilbert Ghearing and grandson, Gilbert Ross Ghearing II, predeceased Evelyn.
Surviving Evelyn is: Son, Gerry, daughter-in-law Carolina and granddaughter Yadira, Daughter-in-law Dolly Lawrence Ghearing, Grand and Great Grandchildren: Gena Rebekah Ghearing, Garth Ross Ghearing Spouse: Allison Renee Bowes Drew, Zefram, Kepler and Anora, Georgia Roxanne Ghearing Spouse: Zachary Adam Lewis, Gabriel Ryan Giosia Spouse: Mary Grace Giosia Theodore and Louise, Grace Ruth Edwards Spouse: Zachary Aaron Edwards, Dorothy and Zelda and Gillian Rose Ghearing
Funeral will be at Boyd Funeral Home, Marion, Ohio on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Visitation begins at 12:00 p.m. Funeral service at 1:00 p.m. followed by graveside memorial. Family and friends are invited to the house for reflections and pizza.