A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 at 2:00 PM at St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church, Aiken, SC, with Father Leon Mozeliak officiating for Gladys Kilbourne who passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on March 2, 2006 at 93 years of age. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday, March 6, 2006 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at George Funeral Home, Historic Downtown Chapel, 211 Park Ave., SW, Aiken, SC. Gladys, a resident of Aiken for the past fifty years, was born in Verona, N.J. on June 29, 1912. Ken Kilbourne, her husband of over 50 years, predeceased Gladys on April 11, 1984. They had two sons, Dixon Roy Kilbourne of Sanford, NC and David Alan Kilbourne of Chico, CA. Gladys was also the proud grandmother of Jack Kilbourne and Kristine Kilbourne Thompson, both of Wilmington, NC. Later a third grandchild, Savannah Kilbourne of Chico CA., was born as well as five great-grandchildren. Gladys married her true love and life's companion, Ken Kilbourne on May 22, 1937. In 1944 Ken and Gladys and their two young sons packed their belongings and moved to North Carolina to begin a long and happy residency in the South. During this time Ken published travel journals as well as served as Bureau Chief at both the Wilmington Post and the Charleston News and Courier. Following that North Carolina period, both Ken and Gladys began long careers working together as a management team with several Chambers of Commerce in South Carolina, first in Georgetown and ultimately in Aiken. During this time Ken was the Executive Director and public relations expert while Gladys did most of the actual work. Following the Chamber years, Gladys began a twenty-five year career as Exec. Secretary at St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church where she became knows as "Gladdius of St. Thaddeus". Soon after Ken's death, Gladys retired from St. Thaddeus. She then spent much of her time with her group of close friends in the church as well as with her two sons and their families. During her later years, Gladys loved being home and independent while spending quality time with her longtime caregiver and companion Betty Channell as well aswith her beloved "Pollyanna", a feline of undisclosed heritage. Glady's lifelong love of the ocean and beach began in 1944 at Wrightsville Beach, N.C. and reached its peak several years later during the idyllic years living on Pawleys Island, S.C., a relationship which continued while visiting the island again each year for the annual family reunion. Gladys was a longtime member of the Daughters Of The King associated with St. Thaddeus. Her other interests included bridge, reading, gardening, pampering her pets, being with her extended family and visiting the ocean whenever possible. She will be sorely missed by her many friends and family members. However, we can be assured that she has now happily joined Ken, her best friend and companion in life, where they are undoubtedly walking hand in hand in the wavelets on a celestial shore while she listens raptly to another of Ken's many heavily embroidered tales of personal excitement and adventure. Gladys is survived by her sister Doris, her sons Dixon and David and her grandchildren Jack, Kristine and Savannah as well as five great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Gladys' name may be made to St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church, 125 Pendleton St., SW, Aiken, SC 29801.