Drucilla Balentine Gosnell

On Wednesday, September 11, 2024, Drucilla Balentine Gosnell, “Dru,” died at the age of 103 after a brief illness. 

Drucilla was born on October 1, 1920, on a large farm near Ware Shoals, South Carolina. She was the youngest of John Hillry Balentine and Sarah Davis Balentine’s twelve children. She graduated as Salutatorian of the class of 1938 at Ware Shoals High School and received a B.S. in Home Economics from Queens College in 1942. She also completed graduate studies at Furman University.

After college she returned to Laurens County and taught Home Economics at Ford High School. In Laurens, she met her future-husband, Samuel Calhoun Gosnell, “Sam,” who had just returned from military duty in Europe after D-Day. They married on August 3, 1946, moved to Boiling Springs, SC, and Dru taught at Boiling Springs High School for a year before they settled in Spartanburg where the couple brought up their three daughters, Sally, Mary, and Cindy. She was a stay-at-home mom until the girls were all in school. Then she returned to teaching at First Presbyterian Church Weekday School and later at Fairforest Elementary School in first grade. 

Drucilla was an active member of First Presbyterian Church, Spartanburg, where she was a member of Circle 3, taught Sunday School, participated in the JOY group and other activities. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Eta Chapter, for 60 years and was awarded the Order of the Rose by the state organization in 2021. She was a long-time member of PEO Chapter D, where she continued to attend monthly meetings even in her last months. She was also a charter member of Rutledge Book Club.

Dru was a lady of many talents including gardening, sewing, cooking, quilting, playing family games, and working puzzles. She managed her own property for many years after her husband’s death. Most of all, she loved her family and friends and celebrations with them. During the last weeks of her life, she spent special moments with all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, even those who lived far away.

Drucilla was pre-deceased by her parents, husband, siblings, and her daughter, Mary Drucilla Gosnell Fisher. She is survived by daughters, Sally Gosnell Dover (David) and Cindy Gosnell Rickenbaker (Tom) of Spartanburg; her grandchildren, Laura Dover Keller (Steven), Samuel David Dover (Kasey), William Irvin Fisher, III, Mary Frances “Molly” Fisher Tippett, Clifford Calhoun Walters (Natalie), Thomas Randolph Rickenbaker (Heather), and James Robert Rickenbaker (Rachel); and her great-grandchildren, Sarah Kate Keller, Norah and Charlie Dover, Georgia and Teddy Walters, Eleanor, Abigail, and Lily Rickenbaker. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins, especially a dear niece, Frankie Humphries.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church, at 11:00 a.m. 

In remembrance of Drucilla, contributions can be sent to First Presbyterian Church Music Fund or Weekday School, 393 E. Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302, or to Hatcher Gardens, 832 John B. White Sr. Blvd., Spartanburg, SC 29306.