Gloria Louise Bradford

Gloria Louise Bradford passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love and prayers of her family on November 10, 2013 at the age of 90. Born on October 11, 1923 in Grants Pass, Oregon to Julia and Frederick “Fritz” Gebers, she attended Dimmick Elementary and graduated from Grants Pass High School in 1941. Gloria received a degree in elementary education from Oregon College of Education, Monmouth, in 1944, and then worked at the Salem State Library for nine months. She taught P.E. for three years in Cottage Grove and always looked back at those years fondly, referring to her 6th grade boys as her “pets”.

Gloria met her future husband, Jack, through Jack’s aunt, a fellow faculty member. Jack was called to supervise a dance, and the rest is history! They were married May 30, 1948 in the Grants Pass Methodist Church.

They settled in Springfield, Oregon, where their three children were born. Gloria stopped teaching to raise the children, eventually returning to substitute teaching in the Springfield school district. Her faith was the foundation of her life. She served in various capacities where needed in her local church, always actively lending support and friendship to the pastors. Her position as Sunday School Superintendent at Springfield Lutheran Church for ten years was a highlight of her younger years.

Upon Jack’s retirement in 1985 they discovered Happy Trails Resort in Surprise, Arizona. They were snowbirds there for over 20 years. Mom called those years “the best years of our lives”. She was active in the church on the resort, serving on the board and teaching Bible studies. Teaching was always her first love and she was loved and appreciated by those who faithfully attended. She loved the warm weather, getting around in her golf cart, riding her bicycle, playing shuffleboard, and the almost nightly card matches, occasionally letting Jack win. That might not be the way he tells it however!

While wintering in Arizona, Gloria and Jack found that summers in Crooked River Ranch in Central Oregon to be the perfect balance. Committed as ever to her faith, Gloria was an active member of the local church, both attending and teaching Bible studies. Many summer evenings were spent playing cards with Jack and friends, and enjoying their youngest daughter and her family living close by.

In 2007, due to health reasons, they returned to live near family, finding a home and new community of friends at Astor House in Newberg, Oregon.

Gloria is survived by Jack, her beloved husband of 65 years, children, Louise (Michael) Muldoon, John (Doneta) Bradford, and Julie (Rick) Hopkins, grandchildren, Wendy (Albert) Vagnozzi, Kate (Richard) Foreman, Kelly Muldoon, Joshua (Jill) Bradford, Kayla (Joe) McAfee, Larissa Bradford and Megan Bradford, Sarah Hopkins, and nine great grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Astor House Independent Living Facility at 3801 Hayes Street in Newberg on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.