Obituary of Geneva Elizabeth Derifield

Geneva Elizabeth Goble Derifield was born September 13, 1923, to Della Cornett Goble and Andrew Marion Goble in Lawrence County, Kentucky.  She married William James Derifield on November 19, 1945 in Waverly, Ohio.

Geneva is preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill, sons William Glenn Derifield and Ronald Millard Derifield, brothers Ira (Bertha) Goble, Oscar (Mary) Goble, Ernest (Geneva “Tinsey”) Jim (Wilma who survives) Goble, and sisters Marie (Henry) Silcott and Madaline (Carroll) Ingham. She is survived by her son Donald Marion Derifield (Merrie Ellen Wood), Jimmie Derifield (Joyce “Rocky” Derifield) and daughter Linda Derifield Hornsby (Jimmy Hornsby).  Geneva has many nieces and nephews, and her grandchildren are Brandon (Meg), Thomas, Chrystal (Jesse), Carrie and Kathleen, and great-grandchildren are Gabriel, Luke, and Emmalee.  She is also survived by Linda’s step-daughters Shelia, Stacey, and Shea and their families. 

Geneva survived a debilitating stroke on her 95th birthday, and her family was more than a little concerned about how she would adjust to a skilled nursing facility, “a nursing home”, but to our great delight she became the star resident.  In September 2020, on her birthday, she tested positive for Covid and was put in isolation. Five days later she was back in her room.  She survived another hurricane or two in Tallahassee and another positive Covid.  The last 5 months of her life she was with Don and Merrie Ellen, as the star patient in their household.  She was treated like royalty and really enjoyed being there. 

Through her almost 101 years, she filled many roles: farmers daughter, family caregiver, factory worker during World War II, army wife, devoted mother, one-parent homemaker during Bill’s deployments, and shift worker’s wife.  Geneva will be most remembered for was how much she cared about other people, especially her family.  Her mother, her sisters and brothers, her children, her nieces and nephews, her grandchildren, and her friends were her most precious treasures.  Let us celebrate a life well lived.

Funeral services will be held on Friday August 9th at 1:00 pm at the Wilson Funeral Home with Pastor Chris Wilson officiating. Burial will follow in the Derifield Cemetery at Clifford, Kentucky. Friends may visit the family on Friday from noon till time of services at Wilson Funeral Home.

Care for Geneva and her family has been entrusted to our family at Wilson Funeral Home.