Gloria Gresham

“Life, Learning and Friendship”. The motto of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority is the perfect description of how Gloria Mae Bain Gresham lived her life. A loving daughter, wife, mother and grandmother, Gloria knew the important values in life and worked hard to instill them in her family. Sometimes described as stubborn and willful, Gloria was also loyal, proud and very giving. It has been said that no one was a stranger to Gloria. How wonderful to have been part of this woman’s life.

The1920’s were known as the “Progressive Era” in education. The new theories centered on the ideas that creative activity and the development of children's natural interests could be relied upon to produce an education better than that previously offered. This most certainly affected the lives of Robert W. and Auddra Marie (Rawles) Bain, living in LaPorte County, in Indiana. Robert was a high school principal, Auddra was a teacher, and in the fall of 1924, they were expecting their second child. Daughter Gloria Mae arrived on September 22, 1924, joining her brother Robert and delighting her parents. This was a fitting time for the arrival of a person whose life would be engaged in various forms of education, creative activities and the development of children’s natural interests.

Gloria grew up the only girl, surrounded by three brothers – Robert, Phillip and John. Being the only girl, like most brothers, the boys were very protective of their sister. Gloria enjoyed this special attention but was also quite capable of taking care of herself. While in her childhood, Robert Sr. moved his family to LaGrange, Indiana and it is here that Gloria completed her own education. She graduated from Monrovia High School – her dad was the principal – where she played girls basketball for several years.

Gloria’s life took a new turn when the family moved again, this time to Indianapolis. It was here that she met a young man named Stokes Gresham. Stokes was vice-president of a local radio station and Gloria was immediately taken by this handsome gentleman. Perhaps her parents had visions of a large wedding for their only daughter, but Gloria had other ideas. In 1944, at the age of 20, she and Stokes eloped. Over the next several years, they would welcome the births of four beautiful daughters – Gloria, Marsha, Georgia and Linda. Gloria often said that the births of her daughters were the greatest days of her life. Stokes was very successful in his career and would turn the radio station into a well-respected television station.

Family was an important part of Gloria’s life. Although she was the disciplinarian of the family, she was also very involved in her daughter’s lives. She even served as the President of the P.T.A. at School #80 in Indianapolis. And of course Christmas was the big family holiday, when everyone, including grandchildren in later years, was home.

In the late 1960’s Stokes, Gloria and family moved to St. Petersburg, Florida to escape the cold of the Midwest winters. Stokes passed away in 1971. Youngest daughter Linda was just 12 years old and Gloria now found herself a single mother. In 1976 she decided to move back to Indianapolis to be closer to family and to help care for her mother. New happiness soon arrived in “small packages” named Stoker, Morgan and Hunter. Daughter Marsha and her husband Stephen Walsmith were the proud parents of Stoker and daughter Linda was the proud mother of Morgan and Hunter. Gloria now had a new family to love and care for. And she did both of these, in abundance. Morgan and Hunter spent a great deal of time with their grandmother and she was often their primary caregiver. She used her newly found position as grandmother to enrich the activities and the minds of her grandchildren. They spent many fun-filled hours going to the zoo, the Children’s Museum – even the symphony and the theater. It was also important to Gloria that her grandchildren be taught, use and live by good manners and strong values. She worked for a while at the Learning Time Day Care and shared her manner and values with the children there. It was a job she really enjoyed.

When not with her family, Gloria had several interests of her own. She was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, a non-academic sorority that provides educational programs and opportunities for service, two causes very dear to her heart. She loved birds, was an avid bird watcher and had quite a collection of bird figurines. She was very outgoing and loved a good party, either as the “guest” or the “hostess”. She was known as a very gracious hostess.

It has been said that what the heart gives away is never gone. It is kept in the hearts of others forever and ever. This past September, Gloria and her family celebrated her 80th birthday. The memories of this generous woman and the life she lived will certainly be kept in the hearts of all who knew her.

Gloria Mae Bain Gresham, of Indianapolis, died November 15, 2004. She was widowed to Stokes Gresham who preceded her in death in 1971. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Robert, Phillip, and John Bain. Her family includes her daughters, Gloria Jean Gresham, Marsha Walsmith (Stephen), Georgia Gresham, and Linda Arthur; grandchildren, Stoker Walsmith, Morgan Elaine and Hunter Sterling Arthur. Gloria’s Life Story memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. on Thursday in the Leppert Life Story Funeral Home, Nora Chapel, 740 E. 86th St. Friends will greet the family from 10 a.m. You are invited to visit Gloria’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a personal memory, arrange for flowers, or make a memorial contribution to the American Heart Association or the Historic Landmarks Foundation.