Obituary of Dorothy Mae Hinsch Gaskin

Dorothy Mae Hinsch Gaskin passed away on June 2, 2021. She was born on January 1, 1924 in Brooklyn, NY. She was the oldest child of the late Harry Louis Hinsch and Francis Mae Hinsch. She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, John Thomas Gaskin; her sister, Virginia Wessinger; and by her son, Richard Louis Gaskin. Dorothy is survived by three children, John David Gaskin (Ginger), Betty Gaskin Jones (Michael), and Harry Thomas Gaskin (Nancy); her sister, Betty Rossi; and by daughter-in-law Bonnie Gaskin. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jonathan Gaskin (Sarah), Jennifer Leigh Steffy (Bob), Christopher Jones (Angela), David Jones, and Amanda Hyslop (Michael). She was blessed with nine great-grandchildren, Blake Gaskin, Cassidy Steffy, Amanda Jones, Tess Jones, Sean Jones, Lily Hyslop, Savannah Hyslop, Emily Portelance and Jason Portelance.

Dorothy graduated from St. John’s Episcopal Hospital School of Nursing as an RN, and later graduated from the University of South Carolina with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She received a Master’s Degree in Psychiatric Nursing from Vanderbilt University.

Dorothy’s career included ER nursing at George Washington University Hospital, public health nursing, and later, psychiatric nursing for the Veterans Administration Hospitals in Nashville, TN and Gainesville, FL. During her years at the VA, she taught Vanderbilt students clinical psychiatric nursing, and held group therapy sessions for alcoholics and Vietnam Veterans.

In her 97 years, Dorothy has had a life of adventure. She met her husband, John Gaskin, during WWII. She lived across the United States as the wife of a career Marine. She flew small engine airplanes as a hobby, and enjoyed skiing and traveling.

Dorothy loved her family and was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She loved her church, Edwards Memorial ARP Church.

Visitation will be held at Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia, SC on June 4, 2021 from 6:00-8:00pm. Her funeral service will be held at 2:00pm on June 5, 2021, at Edwards Memorial ARP Church, 1600 Summerland Drive, Cayce, SC. Interment will be held at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 7100 Garners Ferry Road, on June 8, 2021 at 3:00.

Memorials may be made to Edwards Memorial ARP Church or to the charity of your choice.