NELVA MAY CLARK GOTTSCHALK 101 died Sunday March 9 at Calvert City Convalescent Center, Calvert City, Kentucky. She was born in Flint, Michigan, on August 4, 1923, to Delbert Roy Clark and Mamie Eaton Clark in the same house where she later married 2nd Lt. Eugene Gottschalk on July 10, 1944. They were paired together by height at a dance for servicemen in April of that year. They began married life in Savannah, Georgia, where he was stationed. A daughter was born in 1945 back in Michigan while Gene was overseas serving in World War II.
When the war ended and they were reunited and the family settled in Baltimore, Maryland, where two sons were born in 1947 and 1948. The family resettled in Flint, Michigan in 1950 to be near extended family. They next moved to Plainfield, Indiana in 1955. Nelva was a loving wife and mother, a fulltime job. She returned to work briefly in a law office in downtown Indianapolis during the end of their stay in Indiana.
In 1958 the family moved again, this time to Kentucky Lake to own and operate a restaurant. She took on this adventure fearlessly with no previous experience. The family next moved to Paducah in 1964 and Nelva went to work in a local bank as a secretary and worked her way up to assistant trust officer before leaving to become a fulltime homemaker again. During retirement Nelva and Gene traveled extensively, first in a camper, then motorhome and even on motorcycles. Later they traveled to Alaska, Hawaii, on cruises and overseas.
Nelva is survived by her daughter Cheryl Beasley and son Clay (Pat) Gottschalk, daughter-in-law Sandra Hancock Gottschalk, grandchildren Jon Christopher Griggs, Carrie Gottschalk (Christopher) Singler, Dr. Ginny Gottschalk, and Lee Gottschalk; great grand children Marina Singler, Oliver Singler and Lexee Kate Gottschalk.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 55 years Gene Gottschalk and son Chris Gottschalk, 2 brothers and 2 sisters.
Private graveside funeral service will be held at New Hope Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Benton, KY.