Gloria J Bartholomew

Gloria June Bartholomew, 86, of Rockford, Illinois, passed away peacefully Sunday December 4, 2011 at home after a short illness; Born January 3, 1925 in Rockford, Illinois to Elvin and Louise(Reum) Baxter; Graduate East High School; Married to Richard Bartholomew January 15, 1944; Employed as a bookkeeper by Illinois National Bank & Northern Star Plating for several years; Member of New Milford United Methodist church; volunteered at Riverside school and Lifescape thru Swedish American Hospital; Gloria loved her family, grandchildren, and great grandchildren with all of her heart and soul, and looked forward to the annual Baxter Family Picnic to see all of the clan. She also truly enjoyed singing church hymns, cooking, sewing the childrens clothes and especially loved dancing with her husband Richard as they followed the performances of the Don Bush Band every Saturday night; Survived by husband Richard; sisters Nancy(Tom) Lounsbury, Bonnie(John) Freeberg; brothers Dale Baxter, Fred(Sue) Baxter; sons Thomas(Shelagh) Bartholomew of Lemorre, California, Leslie(Valerie) Bartholomew of Rockford, Illinois; daughters Linda(Dan) Riggins of Rockford, Illinois, Carol(Terry) Burns of Rockford, Illinois; 12 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews; Predeceased by parents, brothers Jerry and Richard Baxter; sister Peg Blair; sister-in-law Fumiko Baxter; niece Naomi; brother-in-law Eugene Blair; grandson Michael Bartholomew; Services will be conducted by Pastor Megan Smick from New Milford United Methodist Church; In lieu of flowers. memorials to New Milford United Methodist Church; Visitation Thursday December 8, 2011 9am to 10am and Funeral Service to follow at Sunset Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens, 8800 N. Alpine Road, Machesney Park, Illinos; visit www.sunsetfhmemgardens.com