Geneva Provenzano

August 12, 1920 - September 17, 2011

Geneva Richeson Provenzano, age 91, passed away on September 17, 2011, at Perry Community Hospital in Linden, Tennessee. Geneva was born August 12, 1920 in Burleson, Texas, the second youngest of eight siblings, the offspring of Joseph A. Richeson and Emma Ryan. She graduated Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Texas and attended Texas Women's University in Denton. While visiting relatives in Port Arthur, Texas, she met Sam Provenzano, whom she married October 1, 1938, and together they reared two children, daughter Jean and son David. Later she began a career in women's merchandise, which eventually led to operating her own business, Four Seasons Dress Shop in Port Arthur, until she retired. She was a resident of Port Arthur for 80 years before moving to Tennessee. Geneva was a charter member of Lakeview Methodist Church in Port Arthur where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for many years, remaining a faithful life-long Methodist. For the past four years, she has resided with her daughter, Jean and husband Richard Ponder of Pleasantville, Tennessee. Geneva was preceded in death by her husband Sam and her son, David. She is survived by her daughter Jean Provenzano Ponder; one sister, Marie Hiscock of Woodlands, Texas; son-in-law Richard Ponder of Pleasantville, TN, daughter-in-law, Suzanne Ryan of Beaumont, Texas; grandchildren, Paul Ponder of Linden, Tennessee, Tom and Ann Giltner of Hohenwald, Tennessee, Mark and Amy Ponder of Knoxville, Tennessee; Corey and Jennifer Heitzman of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, Cullen Ryan of Austin, Texas, and seven great grandchildren: Eric and Creed Giltner of Hohenwald, Tennessee; Madison Ponder and Brittani Thornton of Knoxville, Tennessee; and Caden, Marin, and Hallie Heitzman of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; and numerous nieces and nephews.