Gloria Marie Gardner

Gloria Marie Greenwell Gardner was born at home on Llano Street in East Dallas on January 14, 1928. She passed from this life on January 20, 2016 at Baylor Hospital in Dallas after a long illness. Gloria was devoted to her parents, Fred and Blanche Greenwell. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Terrill Gardner and sister, Amelia Gray White.

Gloria Greenwell and Terrill Gardner met at Woodrow Wilson High School. She lived in Dallas all her life except for a brief time during early marriage when Daddy was in the army. Gloria and Terrill had 3 children; Diane, Glen and Fred. They purchased a house in 1955 in the Casa View neighborhood of East Dallas where they raised their family. They were married for 38 years until Terrill’s death in 1990.

Gloria and Terrill enjoyed musicals at the State Fair Music Hall. For many years they had the same fourth row seats for the Sunday, 2 pm matinee. Glen and Fred took turns escorting Mom to the shows after Daddy died for as long as she was able to go. One of her favorite musicals was ‘42nd Street’ especially the song, Shuffle Off to Buffalo. Fred shared that she liked upbeat, happy shows.

One of our favorite childhood memories was going to the State Fair of Texas. Mother would take us on the bus to the fairgrounds to visit museums, the automobile building and the “Woman’s Building” and to every livestock building to look at every single sheep, pig and cow on exhibit. We would eat Jack’s Fries which, we agreed is still our favorite fair food. Mom had a lot of patience and stamina to take three rambunctious kids to the fair.

Gloria was a “DIY” person, described by her son Glen as a mechanical genius. She figured out how to “fix” the 66 Volkswagen that wouldn’t start when it rained. She would cover the engine with a black plastic trash bag to keep the distributor cap dry. Many times we would forget the cover, start the car and hear the wap, wap, wap of the torn bag. She passed that “Do It Yourself” spirit on to all her children.

Gloria attended Eastfield College and earned an associate degree with an accounting certificate and made the dean’s list several semesters. Attending college at the same time as her two oldest children Gloria and Glen actually had a Psychology class together.

After high school graduation Gloria had clerical positions at Union Bankers Life Insurance and an oil field supply company until she married. She was a house wife and stay at home mom until 1977 when she went to work for IRS. She was hired as a Time Keeper in payroll. At the time of Gloria’s retirement in 2001 she was assigned to the Technical Support Branch as a Tax Examining Assistant.

Gloria became ill in 2005 and required care and assistance for the remainder of her life.

Gloria is survived by daughter, Diane Mickelson and husband, Tim, sons, Glen Gardner and Fred Gardner, grandchildren, Ginny Robinson and husband, Grant and Austin Mickelson, great-grandchildren Oliver and Stella Robinson.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the charity of your choice.