Hilda Thornburg Gunst
97, Bessemer City, NC passed away peacefully on Dec. 1, 2014 in Indianapolis, IN. Hilda was born in Beaumont, TX on Feb. 7, 1917 to the late Raymond and Charlotte Butler Thornburg. Hilda's family lived in Atkins, SC until Hilda was 16, and then moved to her father's hometown of Bessemer City, NC. Hilda graduated as valedictorian of her high school class in Lynchburg, SC in 1933 and graduated from Winthrop College, Rockhill, SC in 1938. She later obtained a masters degree in education from Rutgers University, NJ. She married Captain Otto Edward Gunst in 1946 in Bessemer City, NC. They settled in Bound Brook, New Jersey where she worked as a dietitian for several years and as a teacher at Bound Brook High School until she retired in 1979. Hilda was a lifelong volunteer and was always very active in many community organizations. She was member of the Congregational Church in Bound Brook. After retirement, Hilda and Otto moved to Bessemer City, NC, where she was a member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church, The Order of the Eastern Star, the History and Art Society, Garden Club and several bridge clubs. She was a member of the Bessemer City Centennial Committee and co-authored the Centennial book on Bessemer City history. She is preceded in death by her husband of 61years, Otto Gunst; sisters Dorothy Sykes, Charlotte Crawford; and brother Robert Thornburg. Survivors include daughters Elise Gunst (Dwight Silverman), Susan Gunst (Charles Taliercio); 5 grandchildren, Michael Taliercio, Elise Taliercio Hoyt, Christina Taliercio, Kate and Jessica Silverman. A memorial service will be held at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Bessemer City, NC 28016 on Sunday Dec. 21st at 2 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Andrews Episcopal Church (P.O. Box 611).