Glois Estella (Ross) Gilbert (2014)

GILBERT, ROSS, SNAPP, JOHNSON, LEVERICH, TRIPE, BAKER, LIPPINCOTT, HARTER, ONDER, WOOD, CARTER, JONES, KURTZ, JENSEN, RILEY, RANDLES

Posted By: Shirley Keating (email)
Date: 2/2/2014 at 22:45:32

Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa
February 2, 2014

Glois Estella Gilbert, Des Moines

Glois Estella Gilbert, 92, of Des Moines, Iowa passed away January 30, 2014 at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday, February 3, 2014 at Johnson Family Funeral Home in Earlham, Iowa. A celebration of her life will be held at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at the Earlham Church of Christ with burial immediately following at the Earlham City Cemetery. Online condolences may be left on www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Glois was born October 9, 1921 at the family home in Fort Des Moines to Lewis Wilson and Lucile Rush Ross. She grew up in Fort Des Moines and at a young age began helping in her parents store and cafe. She also helped run the family's roller skating rink. In 1940, she graduated from Lincoln High School and enrolled at Drake University where she received her teaching certificate. She began her teaching career in Seymour, Iowa and the following year she accepted a position in Earlham, Iowa teaching Math and coaching girl's basketball. It was in Earlham that she met her future husband, Delbert, at his family's restaurant. They were married, made their home on the Southside of Des Moines and became the proud parents of five children: Leota, Joseph, Virginia, Jerrold and Krystal. Glois was employed at Younkers Department Store in the Cashier Accounting Department for 22 plus years before retiring. She then worked part-time at United Federal Savings Bank in the Items Processing Department for approximately 10 years until the bank closed. During that time period Glois and Delbert moved back to Earlham where they lived until his passing on October 10, 1981. Shortly after, Glois moved back into the family home in Des Moines to be close to her family. She then took a part-time job at Burlington Coat Factory, working there until November 1997 when she permanently retired.

Glois enjoyed many things in life, but her greatest joys revolved around her family. In her younger years, she enjoyed roller skating and working late helping her mother in the store and cafe. While her children were young, she spent time gardening and canning her produce. She was a wonderful cook and known for her fried potatoes, tomato preserves, peach cobbler and homemade fudge. As her children became involved in music and other activities, you could always find Glois close to the front to watch and encourage. In her later years she enjoyed taking classes with her daughter Virginia to learn stained glass and other crafts. She was also an avid follower of her grandchildren's numerous activities.

Glois is preceded in death by her parents, Lewis and Lucile Ross; her husband, Delbert; her siblings, Olga Snapp, Carma Johnson, Zelphia Leverich, Zola Tripe, Rossina Baker and Lewis Wilson Ross Jr.; daughter-in-law, Sharon Louise Gilbert; granddaughter, Tammy Louise Lippincott; and great-grandsons, Dustin Michael Harter and Zachery Tyler Onder.

To cherish her memory, Glois leaves behind her children, Leota (Vance) Wood of Roseville, Michigan, Joseph Gilbert of Des Moines, Virginia (Russell) Carter of Des Moines, Jerrold Gilbert of Earlham, Krystal (Steven) Jones of Indianola; grandchildren, Matthew Wood, Michelle Kurtz, Carrie Jensen, Angeline Riley, Stephanie Randles, Mark Carter, Jeremy Gilbert, Nicole Gilbert and Nathaniel Jones; 26 great grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and friends who will miss her greatly.