Gloria Virginia Ryan Spence's Obituary
Gloria Virginia Ryan Spence was known by most people in Crownsville & many in Annapolis. She was a lifetime resident of Herald Harbor on the Severn, oldest child of Samuel and Thelma Ryan, siblings Bette and William Ryan. Her parents were the proprietors of the Herald Harbor Beach Club during the 1930s and 40s when the beach club was a favorite getaway for crowds from Washington, D.C.
Gloira was a graduate of the original Arundel High School in Millersville where she excelled at French & took pride in being voted "best dressed" by her fellow students. She was married at 21 to James (Jim) Spence who had traveled from D.C. to attend a dance at the beach club where they met. The Spence couple married and took over the Ryan home overlooking the beautiful Severn River where Gloria had grown up. Other than a brief stint living in N.Y., working for the Stock Exchange, she lived in the same home all her life. Four children came along: Valerie, Kimberly, Kevin and James IV.
Nothing pleased Gloria more than having company to whom she served sumptuous meals, tending her gardens, creating oil paintings, listening to music, chatting with neighbors of all ages & enjoying her growing family.
Being gifted in many areas, she acquired numerous hobbies, particularly studying the stock market and buying, renovating, renting and selling local properties. She found humor in being a successful woman in what was then a man's world.
She was quietly generous to many, lending or giving money where she saw need. People came to her regularly for help, and they received it. She was also one of Bill's friends for over 40 years.
Her last years were spent at Brightview Assisted Living facility where she was much loved by the staff. Her steady descent into Alzheimer's disease was extremely painful to all who knew her.
She now resides with her Lord and Savior and will be sorely missed but not forgotten.
Services will be private.
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