Gloria Jean Woods' Obituary
Gloria Jean Woods of University Place crossed through the Gates of Glory at about 10:00 PM local time, June 2, 2019, just 18 days short of her 68th birthday. Her loving husband of 36 years, David, was at her side, holding her hand, walking her to the door when she passed very peacefully. She had been suffering for many years due to the effects of radiation treatment for Hodgkin’s Disease in 1976, but her suffering is now over. Although the radiation treatment ended up being her demise, it also gave her more than 40 extra years of life. Gloria was born in Tacoma, WA on June 20,1951, the daughter of Warren and Jean Taylor. She grew up in the Tacoma area and graduated from Franklin Pierce High School in 1970. She is survived by her husband, David of University Place, son Donald (and Shawna) Blackburn of University Place, sister Hazel Roper of Tucson, AZ, foster mother Mary Ann Delong of Port Townsend, grandchildren Samantha, Jackson, and Ella Blackburn, two foster brothers, one foster sister, numerous nieces and nephews, and her two long hair miniature dachshunds, Elsee and Apple.
Gloria was an angel to all who knew her and everyone was touched by her beauty and charm. She was for many years an active member of McKinley Park Christian Church, where she was both baptized and married. Gloria was also a lady of indirect proportions. Despite her very small physical stature, she was a lady of great strength and courage. She had a great love of life; she will be sorely missed by all. Gloria liked to relax at home, taking care of her flowers and hanging baskets as well as spending time with her two dogs. She also enjoyed the annual Christmas weekends “with the gang” in Leavenworth. Before her health limited her activities, she was able to travel outside the United States to Hong Kong and New Zealand, and made many trips between Tacoma and Tucson to visit her sister Hazel, with whom Gloria had a very close and special bond.
Gloria was married for a short time to Stan Blackburn, and from her first marriage, she had her son Donald. In 1976 she was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s Disease and endured many chemotherapy sessions, several surgeries, and full body radiation. The treatment worked and Gloria survived. She met her future husband, David, when she went into the Puyallup branch of Rainier Bank to open up an account. It so happened that David was a Personal Banker at the branch, and he opened the account for her. He noticed that the prefix for her phone number, as well as her zip code both related to the University Place area, where David had recently relocated to from Olympia. Noting that Gloria was (1) attractive, (2) single, (3) living in the same area, David decided to become a very “personal” banker. One thing led to another, and before you know it, they were engaged.
It didn’t take long for the two of them to realize that they were meant for each other, despite the fact that they had little in common. David loved sports; Gloria did not. David liked to camp; Gloria did not. But no matter the obstacles, they remained a team for over 36 years. And over the years, a special bond developed between David, Gloria, and Donald; they became a family. Gloria and David were proud of Donald, as he has turned out to be a great husband, father, and friend. Their 3 grandchildren provided warmth and comfort and were a source of great joy to Gloria.
I am proud to say that Gloria was my one and only true love of my life. Other than my mother, I have never uttered the words “I love you” to any other woman. She was my first, my one, and my only true love of my life. I will miss her terribly.
A memorial service for Gloria will be held at Mountain View Cemetery on Steilacoom Blvd. in Tacoma at 11:30 AM on June 15, 2019. Burial at 10:00 AM preceding the memorial service. Reception to follow. Thank you Megan. David Woods
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