In Memory
Gladys Marie Bigelow
Aug. 15, 1936 - Jun. 15, 2009
SOUTH BEND - Gladys Marie (Miller) Bigelow, 72, of Victoria, TX, passed away on Tuesday, June 15, 2009.
She was born on August 15, 1936, in Linton, Indiana, to Ervin Miller and Catherine Dorn Miller. She spent her youth in the South Bend, Indiana, area and attended nursing school at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago where she graduated in 1957 and remained for some time on the nursing staff. In 1958 she married Dr. Eugene L. Bigelow in Monterrey, Mexico, and lived in a rural village in Mexico where she accompanied her husband in a "Social Service," establishing a clinic and attending to the medical needs of the community.
Later, while her husband was doing a residency in General Practice, she worked as a nurse in the labor and delivery department of Hillcrest Hospital in Waco. Later, when her husband was doing a residency in pathology, she worked in labor and delivery departments of Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati and Methodist Hospital of Houston, where she was a night supervisor. In 1967 she moved with her family to Victoria, TX.
In Victoria she was a member of the board of directors of numerous civic organizations and served as president of several civic and social clubs, namely the Victoria County Medical Auxiliary, Junior Service League, Alamo District of the Women's Clubs of Texas, Republican Women's Club, Decora Study Club, Victoria Welcome Wagon, Victoria Symphony League, Friends of the Library and the Victoria Duplicate Bridge Club. Although reared as a Baptist, she became a devout Episcopalian throughout her adult life.
She was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather, Leo Magnuson, brother, Ronald Miller, and half brother, Douglas Magnuson.
She is survived by her husband, Dr. Eugene Bigelow of Victoria; half brother, Christopher Magnuson, and half sister, Beverly Magnuson Buckley of Mishawaka, Indiana; son, Eugene L. Bigelow Jr., and wife, Lisa of Colorado Springs; daughter, Katheryn M. Abdo, and husband, Zaher of Houston, and Susan M. James and husband, David of Dallas; six grandchildren, Eugene L. Bigelow III, Stephanie Bigelow, Zuhdi Eugene Abdo, Nadia Katheryn Abdo, Emily Marie James and Duncan Bigelow James.
The family received friends on Wednesday evening, June 17, from 6-8 p.m. in Grace Funeral Home, Victoria, TX. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. today, June 18, in St. Francis Episcopal Church, with Rev. Faith Bledsoe and Rev. Robert Johnston officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Pallbearers are Dr. Wm. M. Hicks, Dr. Max Faykus, Dr. Gilbert Pyle, Dr. Fred Lykes, Dr. Joe Enos, Dr. Carleton Thompson and Mr. Albert Long. Honorary pallbearers are Mr. Jerry Brown and Mr. Joe Cohen. A reception will follow in St. Francis Episcopal Church.
The family wishes to extend its sincerest appreciation to Doctors Alfred Kopecky, Terry Whitehouse, Bruce Wheeler and James Grumman. And to loving caregivers, Mary Helen Garcia, Nancy Vidales, Chonita Pena, Belen Rubio, Yvonne Bryant and Shelly Buenger.
Memorials in Gladys Bigelow's name may be made to Hospice of South Texas.
Grace Funeral Home, 361-573-4341, Victoria, TX, is in charge of arrangements.
09/26/2021 DEC
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