Look up “southern charm” in the dictionary and there you will find Highlands resident Gloria W.!
Born in El Dorado, Arkansas, and raised in Southern Arkansas and Mississippi, Gloria attended Mary Baldwin College. After one year, Gloria transferred to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history. She went on to become a history teacher for middle and senior high school students. Gloria continues to have a passion for history and is unbeatable at the history fact-based board game, Chronology.
On a blind date on the Fourth of July, Gloria met Royce W., and exactly one year later to the day, they married! Royce enlisted in the Army and was stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas. During that time, Gloria continued to teach and visited her parents often. Gloria taught school in Texarkana until her daughter, Laura, was born. She was then busy raising Laura and very active in her church and community, teaching Sunday School and volunteering at
public schools and libraries.
Life after the Army landed the couple in Austin for Royce’s business, and allowed for Gloria to be closer to her beloved brother and sister-in-law. When in Austin, Gloria worked as an editorial assistant for Southern Living magazine and later as a church secretary for her congregation, University Avenue Church of Christ, until she retired in 2005.
The couple loved to travel and had many opportunities to do so with her husband’s work – so across the globe they went! They traveled to Europe, India, British Isles, Egypt, and their favorite place of all, Africa. Royce passed away in 2009, and Gloria is grateful they had time to make so many memories.
Eventually, Gloria decided she wanted to be closer to her daughter, Laura; son-in-law, Kevin; and two very special grandchildren, Daniel and Grace. Gloria put all her trust into Laura who was “in charge” of her mom’s next move. Lucky for us, Laura discovered Kensington Park!
Gloria moved into the Highlands in September 2020, and loved it immediately – no hesitation at all! She felt at home and was relieved to be safe as the COVID pandemic was all around.
When asked what advice “senior” Gloria would give to “young” Gloria, she shared, “I have been truly blessed all my life, and while there were a few bumps in the road, I am very grateful for my family, my fellow residents, and the team at Kensington Park.” She went on to share in that sweet southern accent, “they are ALL my family now and I could not be happier.”