Gloria Swanson Miller Killingsworth Jinkens
Gloria Swanson was born to Carl Houston Miller and Cora Louise Hanks March 19, 1925, Big Spring, Texas. She passed from this life January 28, 2017, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Gloria graduated Abilene High School, Abilene, Texas, 1943. Pearl Harbor had been bombed December 7, 1941, and U.S. involvement in World War II ensued through 1945. Gloria worked during WWII in civil service at Camp Barkley Army Base, Abilene, Texas. Gloria later worked with Long-Bell Lumber, and then as a switchboard operator with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, Amarillo, Texas. While living and working in Amarillo, she met Bill Killingsworth. They were married April 13, 1951.
Gloria encouraged Bill's professional endeavors as petroleum engineer for numerous years, which eventually led to the family's move from Amarillo, Texas to Edmond, Oklahoma, in 1979. Gloria and Bill enjoyed square dancing and round dancing all over the Southern United States. They traveled with their only child, Russ, across the country attending Russ' bike racing events. Gloria also enjoyed extensive travel, golfing, playing bridge, spending time with her dear friends, and hosting a plethora of nephews and nieces who lived at various times in her home.
Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Cora Miller; husband, Ward William "Bill" Killingsworth, Jr.; husband, Ralph Jinkens; and sister Lila Strickland. Gloria is survived by her son, Russ Killingsworth; daughter-in-law, Sheila Hicks Killingsworth; grandchildren Matthan and Stephanie Beard, and Leah and Jason Hadley; sister Lucille Schoeckert, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; sister Ruby Bruno, and her husband Dennis, Abilene, Texas; sister Elizabeth Stricker, Piedmont, Oklahoma; numerous nephews and nieces; and very dear friends residing across the nation.
Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2017 at Matthews Funeral Home Chapel with interment to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Gloria Killingsworth Jinkens' honor to one of Gloria's favorite organizations: Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, Cal Farley's Girlstown U.S.A., Genie Farley Harriman Center for Women and Children P.O. Box 1890 Amarillo, Texas 79174 calfarley.org.