Gloria Alice Wood Rawls

Gloria W. Rawls, 84, of Gray, entered eternal life Sunday, January 31, 2010 at her residence. She was a native of Bedford County, Virginia, daughter of the late Robert Otis and Ruth Stiff Wood. Gloria was a homemaker, member of the First United Methodist Church and the Susanna Wesley Sunday School Class. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by an infant son, Robert Christopher Rawls; two brothers, Robert Wood, Jr. and David Wood; a sister, Iva Ruth Reece.Survivors include: her loving husband of 63 years, William 'Bill'? Rawls of the home; two daughters and sons-in-law, Nancy and Robert Locke, Pat and Ti Lu; two sons and daughters-in-law, William 'Buzz'? and Marina Rawls, David and Elizabeth Rawls; a brother and sister-in-law, William and Carolyn Wood; three sisters and a brother-in-law, Joann Malloch, Betty Jo McAmis, Mary Lou and Jack Lewis; three sisters-in-law, Connie Wood, Dorothy Williams and Peggy and her husband George Wedgworth; a grandson and his wife, Christopher and Adair Locke; two step-grandsons, Tony Norman and Clay Porter; her adored great granddaughters, Erin Christine and Lauren Grace Locke; numerous nieces and nephews and their children.Gloria was a lover of words and books. She has always loved words, beautiful words, exiciting words and descriptive words. Even more she loved her dear family and friends, keeping in touch daily. She and Bill settled in their adopted home of Johnson City after spending twenty years travelling in the U.S. Air Force. It was here she was able to renew old friendships and be with her family. She was a woman of prayer and had a deep abiding love for God. A funeral service will be conducted on Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. in the North Chapel of the Morris '' Baker Funeral Home, under the direction of Dr. Garland Thayer. A committal service will follow in the Monte Vista Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. The family will receive friends at the residence. The family wishes to thank for their support; friends, the staffs of Christian Care Center, visiting angels and most specially Caris Healthcare. Memorials may be made in the form of contributions to: First United Methodist Church, 900 Spring St., Johnson City, TN 37604 or charity of ones choice.