Genevieve Maryann MacLaughlin of Morganton NC, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and veteran of the Women’s Army Corps, passed away and went to be with the Lord on August 3, 2023 at the age of 82. She passed away peacefully at Elizabeth House Hospice Home in Hendersonville, NC. She was born on December 27, 1940 in Greenfield, MA to the late Henry Charles Kohler and Mabel (Kohler) Parron of Athol.
Genevieve was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 49 years, William Edgar MacLaughlin Jr., with whom she shared a lifetime of love, and her daughter, Kimberly Ann Wittcop from her previous marriage.
Genevieve bravely served her country as a member of the Women’s Army Corps in Germany as a Disbursement and Finance Clerk. During this time, she obtained the rank of Specialist 5th Class before receiving an Honorable Discharge on August 27, 1963. She later went on to serve as the Adjutant and the Commander of the American Legion Post 81, and was a proud member of the Marine Corps League, Table Rock Detachment. Her time in the military instilled in her a sense of discipline, resilience, and patriotism that she carried with her throughout her life.
Beyond her military service, Genevieve was known for her love of animals, her passion for gardening and her unwavering faith.
Genevieve will be deeply missed by her family, friends and all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her legacy will live on through her son Charles Robert MacLaughlin and his wife Nancy of Morganton, her stepson, William Edgar MacLaughlin III and his wife Rebecca Ann, of GA; her stepson, Theodore Robert MacLaughlin and his wife Patricia of SC; her six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Genevieve’s Celebration of Life will be held at 11 am on August 31, 2023 at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Morganton with a receiving beginning at 10:30 am. Military honors will be provided by the NC National Guard and the Caldwell County Veterans Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in honor of Genevieve Maryann MacLaughlin.
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I am honored and grateful to have known Gen and Bill. As fellow veterans, we knew we would be lifelong friends from the time we met. The two of them were proud (and rightfully so) of their military service and that their three sons also served our great nation honorably in military service. We were blessed to worship together and to know them as family at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.