Gloria Hill Gould

Gould, Gloria Hill
Gloria Gould died at home on June 7th, 2009 with her daughter Shawn by her side. Despite the fact that Gloria's cancer was misdiagnosed for two years, she faced her illness with grace, courage and a sense of humor.

Gloria was born May 7th, 1928, the fourth child in a family of 8 children whose parents were Pinkney and Elsie Mae Hill. She grew up in the little town of Temple, in central Texas. Her childhood read like a Tennessee Williams' play, fraught with devastating loss and eccentric and tragic characters. Even so, Gloria grew from a shy, skinny little girl into a stunningly beautiful young woman, known for her spitfire personality and over-the-top sense of humor. She left the mores of her small town and headed for Houston. There she met the love of her life Martin J. Gould. They married in 1954 and began their adventure together, moving to various Southern towns until the Space Race brought the couple and their young daughter to Southern California in 1960. Martin died in 1990 and Gloria continued to live in San Pedro, California until 1997 when she moved to Santa Cruz to join her daughter, son-in-law and young granddaughter.

Gloria possessed an artistic eye and deep appreciation for all that is sweet in this life. She could be transported by the sun shining on the Pacific, a flawless rose, or the sight of a well-groomed horse. Her gift of observation was amazing and her enthusiasm for beauty in its many forms was infectious.

Gloria invested much of her energy trying to make this world a better place. In her prime, she was active in the Civil Rights Movement, the Democratic Party and the Unitarian Church. When Gloria saw injustice or cruelty, she was not afraid to take a stand. She came to the aid of many, whether it was the poor, the disenfranchised or the animal on the side of the road. Her feisty temperament could wound, embarrass or inspire those closest to her. She was very passionate regarding politics and the election of Barak Obama gave her unending satisfaction during the last months of her life.

Gloria was also known for always improving her surroundings and making things more beautiful, continually gardening and painting. She was a voracious reader and writer. She had a lifelong love affair with words and her crossword puzzle and Scrabble skills were legendary. Gloria was an avid movie fan. This began during the Depression and World War II, when she was a regular at the Arcadia Theater. The darkened movie house and the glamorous stars of the 30's offered a little girl an escape from the hard times outside. In Gloria's senior years, her greatest joy was watching her granddaughter Skye grow from a precious infant into a strong and witty teenager.

Gloria is survived by her sister Camille Hutchens of Fort Worth, Texas, her brother Joe Hill of Waco, Texas, her daughter Shawn Gould, son-in-law Dick Spencer and beloved granddaughter Skye Spencer of Santa Cruz, California. Also surviving her are her three testy terriers: Piper, Fala and Daisy.

Gloria never forgot where she came from, the people of Temple and how they shaped who she was. The family suggests planting a rose bush in Gloria's memory or making a donation to Temple Futures for the Arcadia Theater, Attention: Don Higdon, P. O. Box158, Temple, Texas 76503.

In lieu of a memorial service, the family suggests you turn to chapter 16 of Grapes of Wrath and read Tom Joad's farewell to Ma or treat yourself to a classic movie and think of Gloria.