Gloria Friend

Gloria Friend, 99, of Urbana passed away on Friday, April 10, 2026 at Mercy Health - Urbana Hospital surrounded by loving family.

She was born November 26, 1926 at home in St. Paris, Ohio to the late Clifford and Clara Fay (Heck) Garver Sr.

Gloria was a 1944 graduate of Christiansburg-Jackson High School where she enjoyed being a cheerleader. She worked many years for Champaign Landmark, presently Heritage Cooperative, retiring in 2008 as Assistant General Manager.

On December 30, 1944 she married Stanley Friend of Rosewood, Ohio, who preceded her in death in 1995 after 51 years of marriage. They eloped during wartime with their dearest friends, Roderick and Maxine Stevens, to Richmond, Indiana.

Gloria loved to travel and visited many areas of the country and twice visited Europe. She traveled with Stanley, her daughter and son-in-law, friends, senior citizens, and local businesses. She especially enjoyed going on adventures with her favorite people, sisters Shirley and Carol, and her brother-in-law Ed, who drove them many places in a big Class A motorhome. Sometimes they would be away for weeks.

She had other interests, too. One being playing cards with family, friends, and neighbors in her summer home of 30 years on Horseshoe Channel at Indian Lake. Sports were a passion of hers. She liked to watch football, baseball, basketball, and golf on tv until her vision waned. Nonetheless, she would sit in front of the tv and try to see as much as she could of the games. She enjoyed being in her home and until two weeks ago she could clean, cook, and do laundry. She was particularly proud of the fact that at 99 with poor vision she could still make noodles from scratch and cut them herself.

She will lovingly be remembered by her daughter, Alexa (Tom) Hoylman, her sister Shirley (Ed) Bailey, her brother-in-law Jerry Spears, 10 nieces and nephews, as well as great and great great nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death besides her parents and husband were her brother Clifford Garver Jr and wife Margie, her sister Carol Spears, nieces Kris (Garver) Hankey, Kathy (Garver) Hanna, and nephew Daniel Zirkle.

Her family would like to express their sincere thanks to the caring staff of Community Mercy Home Care, especially Missy Powell, Mercy Health - Urbana Hospital, and Cherish Hospice for the kindness and attention they showed her. Their care and compassion meant a great deal to Gloria and her family.

Visitation will be from 11:00AM - 1:00PM on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Walter & Lewis Funeral Home, Urbana, Ohio.

Funeral service will follow at 1:00PM in the funeral home with Pastor Christopher Dinnell officiating.

Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery, Urbana, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Urbana United Methodist Church, 238 North Main St., Urbana, OH 43078.