Obituary of Gloria Ashley

Mrs. Gloria Ashley passed away suddenly on May 16^th, the day after her 88^th birthday -- a day spent surrounded by loving family and friends. Born Gloria Lucille Owen in the Anderson-county based Piercetown community on May 15, 1934, she was the only child of Donald Owen and Ruby Elrod Owen. Mrs. Ashley was educated in Anderson county schools and graduated the valedictorian of her high school class at White Plains High School. After graduation, she worked for several years at SC National Bank, where she met her husband Wilbur; they married in 1954.

After moving to Columbia in 1959, Mrs. Ashley became a full-time mother and homemaker; she stayed busy being a home room mother, going on field trips, working in the health room, refinishing antique furniture and growing beautiful flowers in and around her Columbia home. In 1972, she began her volunteer work at Baptist Hospital, a job she dearly loved, and worked each Tuesday at the information desk on the 1^st floor at Taylor street. She retired in 2018 after almost 47 years and 20,000 hours of volunteer service. She was a passionate fan of Clemson football and the Atlanta Braves. 

She is survived by her son Don Ashley (Kelly); a daughter-in-law Darlene Ashley; grandchildren Jason Ashley (Sondra), Brittany Ashley (Steve), Meredith Ashley, Eric Ashley, Bonnie Smith (Steven), Steven Todd (Meghan); a great-grandson Luke; brother-in-law Wendell Ashley, his children and his grandchildren; and several cousins very dear to her. 

She is pre-deceased by her husband Wilbur, with whom she had a long and happy marriage until his death in 2017, her son John, sister-in-law Polly, and many dear friends.

Mrs. Ashley was a member of Kilbourne Park Baptist Church, where she had been a member since 1960.

Memorials may be made to KPBC 4205 Kilbourne Rd., Columbia, SC 29206 or a charity of your choice. 

The family will have a visitation Friday, May 20, 2022 at Thompson Funeral Home at Lexington from 6 -8 PM. Services will be Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 11 AM at the Thompson Funeral Home Chapel at Lexington. She will be laid to rest with her husband Wilbur and son John at Woodridge Memorial Park in Lexington County, SC. She was greatly beloved by her family and will be missed beyond all description.