Palestine High School Alumni Association

06 / 19 / 1936  –  05 / 16 / 2016

Gina (Link) Gingerich went to be with our Lord on May 16 at the young age of 79 years. Gina’s celebration of life will begin with visitation at Bailey & Foster Visitation Stateroom, 207 S. Magnolia Street, Wednesday May 18, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Gina’s remembrance service will be held Thursday May 19 at 2:00pm at Southside Baptist Church, 1500 Crockett Road, Palestine. Her ashes will be spread by family members on land she cherished during her life.

Gina was born on June 19, 1936 in Palestine and her parents were Ray and Loma Hinsley in Palestine. While working at Presley-Crook Pharmacy as a teenager; Gina met and fell in love with Daniel Ray Link. During high school Gina and Daniel had many double dates with other couples and frequented Buddy’s Drive-in to talk and dance on the patio. Gina accepted Daniel’s marriage proposal and they were married at Darling Insurance Agency’s office in Palestine on May 21, 1955. Gina was a beautiful bride as she had made her own wedding dress for the occasion as was a custom at the time.

Their first house was purchased for $1,500 and Danny Wayne and Ricky Ray were born in 1956 and 1957, respectively. In 1963 Daniel and Gina purchased a ranch that was named the “Four L Farm” where the land was worked by the Link family including clearing trees, building fence, barns, sprigging Coastal Bermuda for hay, clearing and cutting trees for fire wood, and driving tractors. Gina and Daniel made sure Danny and Ricky learned the value of hard work as it has benefited both of them to this day.  Gina worked in financial banking for over 19 years at the Royal National Bank in Palestine and in the December, 1990 she became a prison officer at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice too secure health insurance.

In December 1994 Daniel passed away and Gina was alone. She was on her knees many times crying and praying and the Lord said, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Me in all your ways, and I will direct your paths.” Gina grew to trust the Lord and in 1992 she met a Christian man named Bobby Gingerich who also was a prison officer. Bobby told Gina he wanted her to get to know him and the kind of man he was. Gina met Bobby’s daughter and family over the years and Bobby shared some things that the Lord had shown him in a dream about her and things that had happened to her during her life. Everything Bobby said was exactly right and Gina knew the Lord was encouraging her to trust Him. Bobby’s daughter and Gina also had discussions and the Lord showed Gina that Bobby was the one. Over the years God spoke to Gina and Bob and they fell in love and were married on August 8, 1999. It is incredible how God has blessed Gina and Bob over and over again. They lived and let God do things His way. God has been a beautiful Light in their lives as they helped spread the Word. Friends and family knew that Gina and Bob loved each other before themselves. It was their perfect marriage. Gina’s other passion was for her family and friends.

Gina was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel; parents; and siblings, Betty Jean Wilson, Jerri Hammeth, Joe Bill Hinson, and Harold Knox Pate. Gina is survived by her sister, Joyce Baxter of Palestine; son, Daniel Wayne Link and wife Kathy Gaines Link of Lake Jackson, TX; son, Ricky Ray Link and wife Pamela Bockhoff Link of Plano, TX; daughter, Terri Lynn O’Neal and husband Dan O’Neal of The Woodlands, TX; 7 grandchildren, Douglas Wayne Link of Lake Jackson, TX; Kelly Kathleen Lara and husband Ric Lara of Lake Jackson, TX; Julie Ann Link of Midland, TX; Megan Rae Link of Houston, TX; Emma Camille Link of College Station, TX; Landon Ross O’Neal of Corpus Christi, TX; and Megan Kate O’Neal of The Woodlands, TX; a great grandchild, Ryker Lee Lara of Lake Jackson, TX; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends including her friends at Southside Baptist Church.

Honorary pallbearers will be her seven grandchildren Douglas, Kelly, Julie Ann, Megan Rae, Emma, Landon, and Megan Kate and great grandchild,Ryker.

The family would like to thank her many, many friends and neighbors for their warm and compassionate wishes during this time. Your kindness means so much to us. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to East Texas Food Bank, 3201 Robertson Rd, Tyler, TX 75701 (Phone 800-815-3663).

Bailey & Foster Funeral Home Website 05 / 17 / 2016