Anita May Gheno

On May 6, 2018, Anita passed away peacefully after a short illness at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, California.  She resided in Napa, California for 44 years until her death.  

Anita was born on a beautiful Wednesday, May 9, 1934 in Newcastle, Indiana, the second born of six children, Patricia, Alicia, William, Sharane Diane and Stephen, to Harley Kenneth and Aline Mildred Grund.  The family lived in Indiana for some years.  Then moving and making their home in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where Anita graduated from Cheyenne High School May 28, 1952.   

Wasting no time, she joined the workforce while still in high school as a cashier/secretary with the Cheyenne Theaters.  Upon graduation, she worked as a stenographer for the Rocky Mountain Telephone Company in Cheyenne.  Upon passing exams in December of 1952, she began her life-long career with the federal government, beginning with the FHA as a clerk stenographer.  

She married Al Gheno, also of Cheyenne, in 1956, and the couple moved to Colorado Springs for a short time and then came west and settled near family in Vallejo, California, where Anita continued her federal career in the clerical pool at Mare Island Naval Shipyard.  With the birth of their two children, Melanie and Brigette, she chose to stay home to raise her children.   

In 1972 the family moved to Napa, California, and Anita resumed her federal career in 1973 as secretary.  In 1977 she was promoted and became the first woman safety technician at the shipyard.  She enjoyed her career in safety immensely over the next 33 years, obtaining her Associate of Science degrees in Industrial Management, Safety and Supervision.  She received many awards and commendations for her outstanding work and performance as an Occupational Safety and Health Manager during her employment with the Department of Defense at both Mare Island and the Joint U.S./Royal Australian Navy Naval Communication Station in Exmouth, Western Australia.   

Upon returning to the United States, she joined the Department of Labor in San Francisco, where she finished up her career in safety, managing and training the Occupational Safety and Health programs over the entire Western U.S. 

In 2010, after 42 years with the federal government, Anita joined the love of her life, Vic, in retirement.  The two enjoyed extensive travels throughout the United States and Canada and much fine dining. 

Anita is survived by her significant other of 18 years, Vic Sung; two daughters, Melanie Dawn Gheno and Brigette Stacey Gheno of Napa, her granddaughter, Stacey Marie Lopez, two grandchildren, Beau Gette and Riley Grace Lopez of Napa; her sister, Sharane Diane Markley of Idaho, Stephen Grund of Wyoming and William Grund of Oregon.  She was a loving companion, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.  She will be remembered by all who knew her for her upbeat personality, her youth, vitality, love of life and interest in the lives of everyone she encountered. 

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