Gene Bushong, 94, wife of the late Don Allen Bushong and the late Clifton Medders, passed away December 5, 2022 at Commonwealth Senior Living care home on the Eastern Shore. Before moving to the Commonwealth, Gene was a resident of Parksley, VA, and prior to that, she lived in Onley, VA.

Born September 8, 1928 to Guelda Parks Kelly and Dr. Charles A. Kelly, DDS. Gene was delivered by grandmother Eva Parks and a nanny. Gene’s father was late bringing doctor John Robertson to the house for the delivery, but all had gone well despite the Park’s farm having no electricity or telephone.

She attended Onley Grammar School, graduated from Onancock High School in 1945 and then continued at Farmville State Teachers’ College and Beacom Business College where she received an associate degree.

While in St. Augustine Florida, Gene worked in the dining hall at Flagler College. After returning to the Eastern Shore with her first husband Clif, she became the first manager of the kitchen and dining room at Eastern Shore Yacht & Country Club. 

Gene belonged to the Onley United Methodist Church for over 70 years where she was a former Sunday school teacher, active in the United Methodist Women, and helper in the kitchen preparing for church meals and get-togethers. Don and Gene would count, then deposit the church’s weekly collections that is until another member accused the couple of stealing money from the church, according to Don. Gene was also an active member of the Soroptimist Club with her daughter Martha. No reported improprieties were received from the club about Gene’s conduct while a member.

In addition to her husbands and parents, Gene was preceded in death by her brother Charles L. Kelly; daughter, Martha Ellen Medders, and son Clifton “Mark” Medders. Both of her children’s deaths occurred within about a year of each other and Gene’s actions played heavily in each of their deaths, in my opinion, which probably weighed heavily on the mother’s heart. Martha died from a blood clot likely the result of bariatric surgery, according to her brother, she had several months prior to her death. Gene was instrumental in encouraging her daughter to have the weight-loss surgery.

Despite her son’s advanced lung cancer Gene insisted he come home and help clean out his sister’s house. “This is going to be the death of me” Mark commented to friends as he toiled in the mold and mildew infested basement; little did he know he would die 14 months later. Mark was likely exposed to brown-black mold, toxic black mold, and aspergillus while working in Martha’s dank basement.

When Mark researched the family’s geneology he discovered a horse thief on his mother’s side in the early nineteenth century. Also, Gene kept a significant amount of money Mark had left in a bank account he intended to leave to his life partner. A technicality in the bank, the fact his partner was in the military and could not legally marry at the time, Gene’s boney greedy fingers, and a stone-cold heart prevented her from honoring her son's dying wish according to his Last Will and Testament. So much for the gentile-southern-belle façade she portrayed to the community. 

She is survived by two cousins and Don’s family. Gene was very appreciative of the visits they made to the Eastern Shore, especially in 2021 and 2022. Finally, Gene was so grateful to the Williams Funeral Home—Johnny, John T., and Crystal, for the years of friendship and the superb planning of her final wishes.

Before Gene passed away she was adamant that her service be “light and joyful—no tears.” That request was easily honored and immediately brought to mind this scene from the Wizard of Oz “Ding dong! The Witch is dead. Which old witch? The Wicked Witch! Ding dong! The Wicked Witch is dead….Wake up, the Wicked Witch is dead. She's gone where the goblins go, below - below - below. Yo-ho, let's open up and sing and ring the bells out. Ding dong the merry-oh, sing it high, sing it low. Let them know the Wicked Witch is dead!”

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