In Memory

Gloria Annette Tarpley (Gienow) - Class Of 1954

Gloria Annette Tarpley (Gienow)

GIENOW, Gloria GLORIA TARPLEY GIENOW. On January 11, 2013, Gloria Tarpley Gienow died peacefully at her home in Decatur. Her daughter Valerie was at her side. Gloria was the beloved widow of Gordon A. Gienow, who died on September 3, 2011. Born March 13, 1936 in Manchester, TN, she was the daughter of Louie Walton and Lelah Burger Tarpley. Gloria was one of eight children in a close knit and loving family. A resident of Georgia for most of her life, she lived in Decatur for the last 49 years. She was baptized at College Park Church of Christ in her youth, and was a member of the Decatur Church of Christ for many years. Graduating from College Park High School, Gloria worked for Southern Airways for several years before meeting and marrying her first husband, Richard M. Waters, of Avondale, GA. She was a successful real estate agent in Atlanta for over twenty years, first with Coldwell Banker Realty and later with Remax. Gloria was a formidable tennis player, an exuberant dancer and lover of jazz, big band and swing music, an avid reader, a devoted and inspiring mother, and unfailing champion of those she loved. Gloria is survived by her sisters Nona Long (husband Lee) of Union City, Shirley Fletcher of Dacula, and Nancy Westbrooks (husband Gene) of Atlanta, her daughter Valerie Waters of Covington, and son Van Waters (wife Rae) of Marietta, step-children Karen Barrows, Kim Gienow, and Scott Gienow, grandchildren Andrea Clay, Tommy Reichelderfer, and Emily Reichelderfer (husband Alex Grant), step-grandchild Dakota Aspinwall, and two generations of nieces and nephews. Friends and family will be received from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, January 13 at A. S. Turner & Sons, 2773 N. Decatur Road with funeral services held at Turner's chapel on Monday, January 14 at 1 p.m. Burial will follow at College Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Southwest Christian Care, 7225 Lester Road, Union City, GA 30291.

Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on January 13, 2013