Nona Gabriel

1920 - 2016

Nona French Gabriel Lt. Col., Ret.U.S. Air Force - LOUISVILLE, KY - Nona was born March 13, 1920 in St. John, Kentucky. She retired from the Air Force in 1972 with the title: U.S. Air Force Lt. Col., Ret., Nurse Corps. Nona had an illustrious career in the Armed Services. She served in: The European Theater, Sicily, Italy and France during WWII with the 11th Field Hospital. She also served at: Burderop, England 1958-1960, Bermuda, Kindley Field 1965-1967. The balance of her military career was spent in the Continental United States. Nona Mae French married Wilhelm Rex Gabriel on her birthday, March 13, 1970 at Hunter AAF, Savannah, Georgia. Nona and Rex lived most of their married life in Savannah where she became step mother and grandmother in Rex's family. They tended bountiful vegetable gardens yearly and enjoyed the peacefulness of the May River in Bluffton, SC. After Rex's passing, Nona returned to her home state of Kentucky to live out the rest of her life at The Forum at Brookside in Middletown, KY. Prior to moving to Kentucky, but after Rex's passing, Nona experienced a vascular stroke. For the next 18 years she lived an independent life in an apartment at The Forum unable to use her speech, or to write. Her military background served her well as she navigated her day to day. Only recently, at 96 did she decide that she might need a little more assistance and moved into a personal care apartment at The Forum. She never missed a chance to circle the random charge on her bills, or find a picture of the new shoes she would like to buy. She was admired and loved by all of her friends and the staff at The Forum. In almost 20 years of caring for her, never was there a cross word. She was pragmatic, if she was tired of visitors she would usher them to the door. Her sweet presence will be dearly missed. Nona's family thanks the staff at the Forum at Brookside for their loving care of her these past 19 years. She was pre-deceased by her six siblings and their spouses. She is survived by her nieces Teresa Clare Bartenstein and Cindy Clare who cared for her. Also surviving are her step daughter, Amy Dale Gabriel Thorpe and her husband R.E. Thorpe Jr., of Savannah, Ga., step-grandchildren, Amy Thorpe Tisovec of Park City, Utah and CPT. Foster Slade Thorpe, of Fort Meade Army Base, Baltimore, Maryland, along with another 30 nieces and nephews, numerous Great nieces and nephews and well as several Great great nieces and nephews. There will be no visitation or public service; a private family burial will be held at a later date. WWW.RattermanS.com Ratterman Funeral Home, East Louisville 502-244-3305 Savannah Morning News October 14, 2016 Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at savannahnow.com/obituaries.