Elaine Dunn Gmerek "Twinkle" (age 85) passed away peacefully with family by her side at the McWhorter Hospice House in Monroe, NC on Thursday, March 28, 2024.

Twinkle was born in Roanoke, VA on January 6, 1939 and lived in NC, WV and CA (multiple times) before moving to Charlotte, NC in 1980. She volunteered with Navy Relief while her husband Ron was in the Marine Corps and then as a docent at the Mint Museum after working as an office manager at Drs. Treat, Steiner, and Pappert Dental Practice for 20 years.

Twinkle loved the outdoors and spent as much time as possible hiking her favorite trails in Glacier National Park or canoeing down numerous rivers. She was a natural swimmer who could spend hours swimming laps in a pool. This led to her becoming a Certified Water Safety Instructor who taught swimming lessons to everyone from infants to young Marines who were novice swimmers.

Twinkle was an incredible storyteller and won multiple awards at Toastmasters. She had a creative flair which she applied to pottery and sculpture. She was an avid collector of unusual buttons and antique hat pins.

Her survivors include her husband Ron Gmerek, her sister Judy Reynolds, and her three daughters Lizzie Gmerek, Kathy Darling, and Marian Kuczero. There are 3 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren to carry on her memory.

To honor Twinkle's love of the outdoors, memorial contributions can be made to http://give.nationalparks.org/goto/Elaine_Gmerek

There will be a Celebration of Life at a future date.

Thank you to the wonderful staff at Atrium Health Pineville and the McWhorter Hospice House who provided such compassionate care.

You will be missed Twinkle…."Our Shining Star".

Holland Funeral Service and Crematory is caring for the Gmerek family.