Gwendolin Pearl Bayless was born on November 17, 1928 to Emma Grace (Eby) and Olin Russell Bayless. Gwen passed away on the morning of Friday, October 2, 2015 at the Elm Heights Care Center, she was 86 years old.

Gwen was born in Northboro, Iowa, where she joined siblings Merrill "Bud", Bill, Kenneth "Ace" and Mildred (Finlay). Later she was joined by Frank and Mary Lou (Chambers). Gwen attended country school and later Coin High school, where she graduated in 1946. She excelled in Basketball and Track & Field.

Gwen met Boyd Richard Whitehill in high school and they were married in December 1946 in Topeka, Kansas.

Boyd and Gwen welcomed two children to their union, Judy Kay (Ditmars) born February 8, 1948 and Duane Richard born December 4, 1952.

Gwen and Boyd farmed south of Shenandoah for the first few years of their marriage. A few years later they moved to Shenandoah, where both of their children attended school and they lived there for the remainder of their lives. Gwen worked in a bank after high school and then stayed home with children. Later, she worked with Boyd, keeping books for Whitehill Gas & Oil.

Gwen's hobbies included playing golf, watching golf, and then playing some more golf. She excelled at the game. She began playing it in her late twenties and played her last game at 72 years old. Her other hobby was her grandchildren. Gwen and Boyd had three grandchildren and were very involved in all of their lives. Duane had one daughter, Amber, and Judy had two children, Andrew and Natalie. Later, Gwen welcomed 3 great grandchildren. Boyd and Gwen also enjoyed traveling. They loved Arizona and Colorado.

Gwen is survived by her son, Duane Whitehill of Shenandoah; her granddaughter Amber (Whitehill) Wiens and husband David of Hastings, NE and their three children Kohl, Augusta and Cale; grandson Drew Ditmars of Phoenix, AZ; granddaughter Natalie Ditmars of Cedar Rapids, IA; brother Frank Bayless of Shenandoah; sister-in-law Wilma Bayless of Elmo, MO; brother-in-law Jim Chambers of Council Bluffs, IA and many other friends and relatives.

Preceded in death by her husband, Boyd; her daughter, Judy; her parents; and siblings: Merrill "Bud", Bill, Kenneth "Ace", Millie (Finlay), Mary Lou (Chambers).

Memorials in Gwen's name are being directed to the American Cancer Society.

Burial will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery in Shenandoah, Iowa.