Funeral service for Gwendolyn Bernice “Gwen” Archie, 84, will be held on Thursday, Dec. 6 at 11 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in Douglas with The Reverend Bobbe Fitzhugh of Christ Episcopal Church in Douglas and Britt Wilson of St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Glendo, officiating.Inurnment will be at Douglas Park Cemetery.
Gwen passed away at Mountain Lodge Assisted Living Facility in Douglas on Friday, Nov. 30.
Gwen was born Aug. 23, 1934, in Perryton, Texas, the daughter of Courtlandt Francis VanArsdale and Leta D (Powell) VanArsdale.
Gwen grew up in Etinburg, Texas where she graduated from high school and later attended beauty school. The family moved to Kansas City, Mo., where she later married Robert (Bob) Hunsicker on Mother’s Day, May 9, 1941 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City. Gwen worked at Katz Drug Company in Kansas City, a career she gave up for motherhood when Bob and Gwen became parents to two sons, Barry in 1962 and Bill Hunsicker in 1968. Bob died on May 21, 1993 after 40 years and two weeks of marriage.
The family moved to Douglas in 1982 where they attended Christ Episcopal Church in Douglas. Both Bob and Gwen were active members of the church, where Gwen sang in the choir and completed a 4-year Education for Ministry program. Gwen worked at the Douglas Golden Rule Store for 20 years until the store closed. Gwen was an accomplished artist and enjoyed painting and singing.
Gwen married Lewis Archie of Glendo on March 12, 2005 at the age of 70. Gwen and Lewis wintered in Apache Junction, Ariz. in recent years. In Glendo, Gwen attended St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church and had recently moved into Mountain Lodge Assisted Living in Douglas, where she joyfully welcomed friends and family to her new home.
Gwen is survived by her husband, Lewis Archie, of Glendo; sister, Doris Aline Shaw (Bart) of Trenton, Missouri; son, Bill (Brandy) Hunsicker of Douglas; step son Ross Archie of Fort Collins, Colo.; step daughter Laura Peden of Glendo and grandchildren, Brayden and Andrea Hunsicker both of Douglas, Kaleigh Dixon of Sheridan, Cole Hunsicker of Montana, Morgan Peden of Douglas, Bailey Peden of Rapid City, S.D., Cassidy Archie of Fort Collins, and Kip Archie of Frederick, Colo.; and two great grandchildren.
Gwen was preceded in death by her first husband Robert (Bob) Hunsicker on May 21, 1993; son Barry Hunsicker in November, 2006; brother, Harvey Clinton VanArsdale in 1940; mother, Francis, in 2010; and father Cortlandt in 1974.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Christ Episcopal Church in Douglas, P.O. Box 1419, Douglas, WY, 82633 or St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Glendo, P.O. Box 412, Glendo, WY 82213
The Gorman Funeral Homes – Converse Chapel of Douglas is in charge of the arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gormanfh.com
