Gladys Forrester

Heaven gained another Angel when our beloved “Aunt Gladys” Forrester entered the gates of Heaven on Monday, March 19, 2018, at the age of 104, after a short illness. Gladys was born on August 9, 1913 in Winnsboro, Texas to parents Charles and Lou Ella (Blount) Pennington. From the very beginning of her life Gladys had a special sparkle and a smile that could light up a room. She lived every minute of her life to the fullest, spreading love and joy to everyone around her. After moving to Dallas in her early teens she attended Forest Ave High School. She left before graduating to take a job sewing to take care of her family during WWII era. As a young woman she worked for Abraham Zapruder, as a seamstress in the Garment District of downtown Dallas. She helped her country by working at North American helping to build airplanes. They saw promise in her work and sent her to SMU to train in aircraft design. This education helped her to design the bomb lift and drop mechanism that was used on the P51 Mustang. After the war she went back to her first love of sewing and was then married to James. Having no children, their love for their nieces and nephews was as deep as a parent’s. In 1947 they took their nephew C.R. along on their honeymoon to California in their new Studebaker Skylark. For many summers “Aunt Gladys” would take their nieces Janis and Cindy to the coast to see where “Uncle Jimmy” was working and taught them to swim and fish. Many weekends they would spend sleeping over and playing dress up in the princess dress that Gladys would make them. Her loving and giving heart knew no boundaries. Gladys loved her family and her flowers, she could put a stick in the ground and a lovely rose bush would bloom and thrive for decades. In the 1960’s Gladys and Jimmy (James) purchased property at Cedar Creek Lake, just outside of Seven Points where Gladys continued her sewing skills and Jimmy opened a cabinet shop. Her love for dancing led to co-founding the 49er’s club, of Cedar Creek Lake. She wanted a place where seniors could come and enjoy music and dance. She played many instruments including piano, organ and the drums. She also loved to play dominos and could beat anyone who played with her. Being a civic minded business owner Gladys served on the City Council of Seven Points for two terms. Gladys and Jimmy were also active in the VFW of Cedar Creek. Gladys moved to Kemp Care Center, where she was very loved and cared for, and one year was voted Valentine Queen. The family would like to thank Kemp Care Center for their love and dedication given to “Aunt Gladys” during her stay there.

Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 56 years James Lester Forrester and brother Clarence Ray Pennington.

She is survived by her brother Dearyl Pennington, nephews C.R. Pennington, Janis Pennington Bell, Cindy Pennington Murphey, James Pennington and Deborah Steele, great nieces and nephews Brad and Doug Pennington, Naomi Tune and Sarah Lassen, and seven great-great nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers the family request that donations be made in Gladys’ honor to the Human Society of Cedar Creek Lake, 10200 CR 2403, Kemp, Texas 75143, 903-432-3422 or www.hsccl.org or VFW of Seven Points, 209 Veterans Ln., Seven Points, Texas 75143, 903-432-2138.