Gloria Gardner Lukeman

Gloria Gardner Lukeman, age 96, of Columbus, passed away November 23, at First Community Village. Born on November 25, 1921, in Toledo, Ohio, she was predeceased by her husband of 63 years, John Paul Lukeman. She is survived by her sons, John and Paul (Val); her grandson Jay Lukeman; her granddaughters Claire (Pep) Fujas, Kate (Cryder) DiPietro, and Jill (Doug) Brody; her great-grandchildren Zoe and Hazel Fujas and Griffin DiPietro. She was predeceased by her sister Betty Baird of Warren, Ohio, and John Gardner of Wheeling, West Virginia. Gloria leaves many nieces and nephews and their children, including five nephews with whom she was very close, Rick (Sandy) Baird of Dublin, John (Sue) Baird of San Jose, California, Jeff Baird of Columbus, John Benson of Naples, Florida, and Ronnie (Diane) Turner of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Gloria spent the early part of her life in Grandview Heights and attended Grandview High School and the Ohio State University. She was a long-time member of St. Brendan's Church. She enjoyed her time spent with many friends at the Vanderbilt Club and Audubon Club in Naples, Florida, at the Ohio State University Golf Club and, later, at First Community Village in Columbus. Gloria was an avid Ohio State football fan, having first attended games in Ohio Stadium with her father nearly 90 years ago.

She loved fall game days in Columbus, hosting many a lively tailgate for family and friends. Family and friends were the focus of her life. Sue Kimble was one of such friends, particularly close to Gloria in her later years.

Gloria was most proud of the relationship that she shared with each of her four grandchildren. She adored them and they adored her. She shared in the joy of graduations, weddings, births, and milestones in their lives, but most of all, she simply loved their routine phone calls checking in.

A private service will be held for family, with a reception to welcome friends at Scioto Country Club, 2196 Riverside Drive, Columbus, Ohio, on Monday, November 26, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Arrangements entrusted to Schoedinger Northwest Chapel, 1740 Zollinger Road, Columbus, Ohio 43221. Please visit www.schoedinger.com to share a memory of Gloria. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wellington School, 3650 Reed Road, Upper Arlington, Ohio, 43220.