Delores M. Guest

Born in Binghamton, NY to the late John and Eleanor Madison, she was the oldest of three children. Surviving are brother, John Madison Jr., her loving husband of 65 years, Claude Edward Guest Jr., daughter, Karen Upton (Jimmy), and granddaughter Devyn Upton (Michael Chemell, fiancé). In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by an infant daughter, Lisa Diane Guest and sister, Elaine Humphries. As an executive with Prudential Insurance Company, her father moved the family from New York to Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Jacksonville Beach, Florida and finally to Marietta, SC in December 1956. She finished her last 5 months of high school at Slater-Marietta in June 1957 honored as valedictorian of her class. In November 1957, at a high school basketball game, she met the love of her life for the next 65 years, Claude Guest, Jr., also of Marietta. Delores went on to make a career as executive secretary for several companies over the next 26 years, then finished her working career as administrator for Boiling Springs Fire District for 22 years, retiring in March, 2005. She and her husband enjoyed travelling the surrounding states upon retirement, particularly the beaches and mountains. In 2012, she and her husband renewed and reinforced their marriage vows at Groveland Baptist Church in Taylors, SC. Also, in that year she co-authored a 240-page biography of their lives. She was an accomplished pianist and an avid knitter. If she knew of one expecting a baby, she got busy and knitted a baby set for them. In later years, he and her husband enjoyed weekly entertainment at The Silver Dollar Music Hall in long Creek, SC. where she occasionally played the piano, and, by October 2022, she began receiving home hospice care. After celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary in June 2023, her health declined exponentially. The family thanks the staff of Interim Health Care of Greenville hospice team (Nina, Helen, Bianca, Annie, Rachel and numerous aides for their extraordinary care given to Delores over the last 14 months. Memorials may be made tog to a local Alzheimer’s research foundation. Wood Mortuary in Greer, South Carolina announces that visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. Monday, December 11, 2023 at the mortuary, followed by the funeral service in the mortuary chapel at 1:00 p.m. Burial will take place following the service at Greenville Memorial Gardens, US Hwy 25 in Piedmont, SC.

Delores M. Guest

June 1, 1939 - December 4, 2023