Obituary of Gloria Elizabeth Marie Eswine

Gloria Elizabeth Marie Kugler was born October 23, 1921 in Weehawken, New Jersey, the only child of Arthur P. and Emily C. Farrell-Kugler. Our sweet Gloria (Kugler) Eswine, passed away Friday, February 28, 2014, of natural causes. She was bless to be able to visit with and say her good-byes to friends and family. The family would like to express their deepest appreciation for the exceptional care given to Gloria at the Wilson Place ALF in Cocoa Beach and Wuesthoff Hospice Care. She liked to think of this time as being in God’s Waiting Room. She was raised in Weehawken, New Jersey, and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1939. She then attended Berkley-Llewellyn Business College in New York City. She worked for United Airlines, Pioneer Seminole Groves, Pioneer Chester Groves, Sullivan Victory Groves, Happy Alligator Groves, and Callaloo Beach Resort in Antigua, Carribean. She volunteered as a Pink Lady at Wuesthoff Hospital; Gray Lady at St. MaryGÇÖs Catholic School; Brevard Veterans Memorial Museum & Military Museum, and enjoyed the last years working for the Election Board at the Rockledge Fire Station, where she spoiled all the firemen with her baked treats! Gloria adored her family, her children are Kathy Newlin (Bill) of Orlando, FL; Bill Eswine (Sharon) of Savannah, GA; Chris Eswine (Dianne) of Viera, FL; Patty Lopez (Larry) of Viera, FL; and Susan Smouse (Marty) of Rockledge, FL. She dearly loved her 16 grandchildren, Ryan, Buffy, Darla, Audrey,Shandy, Bette, Toi, Jeremy, David, Augusta, Chad, Tricia, Michael, Hannah, Adam and Miranda; her 18 great-grandchildren, Zachery, Madeline, Harrison, Luke, Katelynn, Tyler, Erik, Dalton, Karanna, Tiffany, Bria, Taren, Duane, Noah, Bailey, Nathan, Bryce, Brynna; one great-great grandchild, Paislee, born just last week; her dear cousin, Owen (Ronnie) Dunnigan, of Port Orange, FL. Her daughter, Karen Ashley, preceded her in death, in 2001, just before Gloria’s 80th birthday. Her father served in the Army during World War I and her husband served in the Navy during World War II. She also was very active in the Ladies Auxiliary Fleet Reserve Association, Unit # 263, and held office as the National President 1981-1982. She was very patriotic and often moved to tears to think of the sacrifices made for our country by our servicemen. Two of her most treasured memories are placing wreaths at the site of the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, D.C. during her service as National President for the LAFRA. One of her favorite poems to recite was In Flanders Field. Her father had a flagpole in their front yard, flew it daily, and taught each of his grandchildren to properly raise, lower, and fold the American flag. Over 70 years ago, she became a mother and enjoyed her years nurturing her 6 children, 16 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. In the words of a dear friend, GÇ£Gloria was very family oriented and just wanted her family to be close and she wanted to take care of themGÇ¥. She treasured sending special birthday cards and baking cookies, especially her awesome gingerbread men cookies every Christmas. She raised her children at a wonderful home on Barton Avenue where she lived from 1959 to 1990. She then moved to Indian Oaks where she lived until 2012. She enjoyed doing crafts, playing Dominoes, and attending luncheons in her retirement community. She loved to watch basketball, tennis, ice skating and most Olympic Sports. Gloria would like to remind everyone to please vote! Gloria will be honored in a Celebration of Life ceremony at Calvary Chapel of Merritt Island, 3500 North Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island, FL 32953 on Saturday, March 8, 2014 at 2:00 pm.In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to Gloria’s favorite charity, The Fisher House Foundation GÇô Helping Military Families. An account has been set up in her name at www.donations@fisherhouse.org or by calling 1-888-294-8560.