RANCHO SANTA FE - Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother. It has only been a month but it seems like a year. Gloria will be missed by her children and family members and her friends but we all know she has joined the love of her life, her husband of 58 years, Joe Blake. Gloria was born on December 13, 1920, to Violet Margaret Mason and Meade Lyle Regal in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Her parents separated shortly thereafter, and Gloria lived primarily with relatives while her mother pursued a career in show business. Her mother enjoyed some success as Miss San Francisco in the 1923 Miss America pageant which led to the Zeigfeld Follies and years of summer stock.
Gloria, however, resided mostly in Milwaukee with a loving couple she called "Auntie and Uncle" who gave her a world of love. Gloria joined her mother and her second husband, Robert Fiske, whom she called "Daddy Bob" in California in 1936. Gloria graduated from Beverly Hills High School and enrolled in UCLA where she met the love of her life, Joe Blake.
Joe and Gloria eloped in 1939 and formalized their marriage in 1941. Joe was in the Merchant Marines and taught at the Academy on Catalina during the War where they spent the war years. Their older daughter, M'Lissa, was born there on the island during the war. After the War, Gloria and Joe moved to the Hermosa/Manhattan Beach area where their son, Christopher, was born.
In 1953, they moved to the San Fernando Valley where Joe ultimately entered the Savings and Loan industry. Their younger daughter, Vicki, was born during this time. Joe obtained a position with Time Savings in San Diego in 1963 and the family moved to San Diego. Gloria became involved in the Country Friends of Rancho Santa Fe, chairing their annual Day at the Del Mar Races in 1968.
She was a regular volunteer at their consignment shop well past her 80th birthday. Gloria was also involved with the Salvation Army, serving on the Board of Directors of the Door of Hope here in San Diego and on the National Advisory Board as well.
Gloria was named a San Diego Union Woman of Dedication in the 1970s. Gloria and Joe also traveled extensively during this time throughout Europe, making many trips to all parts of that continent often accompanied by family and friends. They also hosted many foreign graduate students coming to UCSD and made life long friends with many of them. She lost her beloved husband in 1997 but that did not dim her zeal for life. She continued to travel to Europe and throughout the United States well into her 80s.
She also continued to make friends and continued her activities with the Country Friends. Shortly before her death, she discovered her paternal half-siblings and they added an element of joy and completeness to a long life well lived.
Gloria died on her 93rd birthday very peacefully and exactly as she wanted, at home and in her own bed. She is survived by her three children, M'Lissa Michelson, Chris Blake, Vicki Sullivan and her husband Bob. Also surviving are Gloria's granddaughter, Carrie Lasater, Carrie's dad, Kent, Carrie's son, Madison Bates and by her long-time caregiver, Alma Navarro. She is also survived by her half-siblings, their children and grandchildren and by numerous friends.
Services have been held and she rests in peace next to her husband, Joe, in the Church of the Nativity in Rancho Santa Fe. She is missed by all who knew her. Published in U-T San Diego on Jan. 19, 2014
Her parents separated shortly thereafter, and Gloria lived primarily with relatives while her mother pursued a career in show business. Her mother enjoyed some success as Miss San Francisco in the 1923 Miss America pageant which led to the Zeigfeld Follies and years of summer stock.
Gloria, however, resided mostly in Milwaukee with a loving couple she called "Auntie and Uncle" who gave her a world of love. Gloria joined her mother and her second husband, Robert Fiske, whom she called "Daddy Bob" in California in 1936. Gloria graduated from Beverly Hills High School and enrolled in UCLA where she met the love of her life, Joe Blake.
Joe and Gloria eloped in 1939 and formalized their marriage in 1941. Joe was in the Merchant Marines and taught at the Academy on Catalina during the War where they spent the war years. Their older daughter, M'Lissa, was born there on the island during the war. After the War, Gloria and Joe moved to the Hermosa/Manhattan Beach area where their son, Christopher, was born.
In 1953, they moved to the San Fernando Valley where Joe ultimately entered the Savings and Loan industry. Their younger daughter, Vicki, was born during this time. Joe obtained a position with Time Savings in San Diego in 1963 and the family moved to San Diego. Gloria became involved in the Country Friends of Rancho Santa Fe, chairing their annual Day at the Del Mar Races in 1968.
She was a regular volunteer at their consignment shop well past her 80th birthday. Gloria was also involved with the Salvation Army, serving on the Board of Directors of the Door of Hope here in San Diego and on the National Advisory Board as well.
Gloria was named a San Diego Union Woman of Dedication in the 1970s. Gloria and Joe also traveled extensively during this time throughout Europe, making many trips to all parts of that continent often accompanied by family and friends. They also hosted many foreign graduate students coming to UCSD and made life long friends with many of them. She lost her beloved husband in 1997 but that did not dim her zeal for life. She continued to travel to Europe and throughout the United States well into her 80s.
She also continued to make friends and continued her activities with the Country Friends. Shortly before her death, she discovered her paternal half-siblings and they added an element of joy and completeness to a long life well lived.
Gloria died on her 93rd birthday very peacefully and exactly as she wanted, at home and in her own bed. She is survived by her three children, M'Lissa Michelson, Chris Blake, Vicki Sullivan and her husband Bob. Also surviving are Gloria's granddaughter, Carrie Lasater, Carrie's dad, Kent, Carrie's son, Madison Bates and by her long-time caregiver, Alma Navarro. She is also survived by her half-siblings, their children and grandchildren and by numerous friends.
Services have been held and she rests in peace next to her husband, Joe, in the Church of the Nativity in Rancho Santa Fe. She is missed by all who knew her. Published in U-T San Diego on Jan. 19, 2014
RANCHO SANTA FE - Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother. It has only been a month but it seems like a year. Gloria will be missed by her children and family members and her friends but we all know she has joined the love of her life, her husband of 58 years, Joe Blake. Gloria was born on December 13, 1920, to Violet Margaret Mason and Meade Lyle Regal in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Her parents separated shortly thereafter, and Gloria lived primarily with relatives while her mother pursued a career in show business. Her mother enjoyed some success as Miss San Francisco in the 1923 Miss America pageant which led to the Zeigfeld Follies and years of summer stock.
Gloria, however, resided mostly in Milwaukee with a loving couple she called "Auntie and Uncle" who gave her a world of love. Gloria joined her mother and her second husband, Robert Fiske, whom she called "Daddy Bob" in California in 1936. Gloria graduated from Beverly Hills High School and enrolled in UCLA where she met the love of her life, Joe Blake.
Joe and Gloria eloped in 1939 and formalized their marriage in 1941. Joe was in the Merchant Marines and taught at the Academy on Catalina during the War where they spent the war years. Their older daughter, M'Lissa, was born there on the island during the war. After the War, Gloria and Joe moved to the Hermosa/Manhattan Beach area where their son, Christopher, was born.
In 1953, they moved to the San Fernando Valley where Joe ultimately entered the Savings and Loan industry. Their younger daughter, Vicki, was born during this time. Joe obtained a position with Time Savings in San Diego in 1963 and the family moved to San Diego. Gloria became involved in the Country Friends of Rancho Santa Fe, chairing their annual Day at the Del Mar Races in 1968.
She was a regular volunteer at their consignment shop well past her 80th birthday. Gloria was also involved with the Salvation Army, serving on the Board of Directors of the Door of Hope here in San Diego and on the National Advisory Board as well.
Gloria was named a San Diego Union Woman of Dedication in the 1970s. Gloria and Joe also traveled extensively during this time throughout Europe, making many trips to all parts of that continent often accompanied by family and friends. They also hosted many foreign graduate students coming to UCSD and made life long friends with many of them. She lost her beloved husband in 1997 but that did not dim her zeal for life. She continued to travel to Europe and throughout the United States well into her 80s.
She also continued to make friends and continued her activities with the Country Friends. Shortly before her death, she discovered her paternal half-siblings and they added an element of joy and completeness to a long life well lived.
Gloria died on her 93rd birthday very peacefully and exactly as she wanted, at home and in her own bed. She is survived by her three children, M'Lissa Michelson, Chris Blake, Vicki Sullivan and her husband Bob. Also surviving are Gloria's granddaughter, Carrie Lasater, Carrie's dad, Kent, Carrie's son, Madison Bates and by her long-time caregiver, Alma Navarro. She is also survived by her half-siblings, their children and grandchildren and by numerous friends.
Services have been held and she rests in peace next to her husband, Joe, in the Church of the Nativity in Rancho Santa Fe. She is missed by all who knew her. Published in U-T San Diego on Jan. 19, 2014
Her parents separated shortly thereafter, and Gloria lived primarily with relatives while her mother pursued a career in show business. Her mother enjoyed some success as Miss San Francisco in the 1923 Miss America pageant which led to the Zeigfeld Follies and years of summer stock.
Gloria, however, resided mostly in Milwaukee with a loving couple she called "Auntie and Uncle" who gave her a world of love. Gloria joined her mother and her second husband, Robert Fiske, whom she called "Daddy Bob" in California in 1936. Gloria graduated from Beverly Hills High School and enrolled in UCLA where she met the love of her life, Joe Blake.
Joe and Gloria eloped in 1939 and formalized their marriage in 1941. Joe was in the Merchant Marines and taught at the Academy on Catalina during the War where they spent the war years. Their older daughter, M'Lissa, was born there on the island during the war. After the War, Gloria and Joe moved to the Hermosa/Manhattan Beach area where their son, Christopher, was born.
In 1953, they moved to the San Fernando Valley where Joe ultimately entered the Savings and Loan industry. Their younger daughter, Vicki, was born during this time. Joe obtained a position with Time Savings in San Diego in 1963 and the family moved to San Diego. Gloria became involved in the Country Friends of Rancho Santa Fe, chairing their annual Day at the Del Mar Races in 1968.
She was a regular volunteer at their consignment shop well past her 80th birthday. Gloria was also involved with the Salvation Army, serving on the Board of Directors of the Door of Hope here in San Diego and on the National Advisory Board as well.
Gloria was named a San Diego Union Woman of Dedication in the 1970s. Gloria and Joe also traveled extensively during this time throughout Europe, making many trips to all parts of that continent often accompanied by family and friends. They also hosted many foreign graduate students coming to UCSD and made life long friends with many of them. She lost her beloved husband in 1997 but that did not dim her zeal for life. She continued to travel to Europe and throughout the United States well into her 80s.
She also continued to make friends and continued her activities with the Country Friends. Shortly before her death, she discovered her paternal half-siblings and they added an element of joy and completeness to a long life well lived.
Gloria died on her 93rd birthday very peacefully and exactly as she wanted, at home and in her own bed. She is survived by her three children, M'Lissa Michelson, Chris Blake, Vicki Sullivan and her husband Bob. Also surviving are Gloria's granddaughter, Carrie Lasater, Carrie's dad, Kent, Carrie's son, Madison Bates and by her long-time caregiver, Alma Navarro. She is also survived by her half-siblings, their children and grandchildren and by numerous friends.
Services have been held and she rests in peace next to her husband, Joe, in the Church of the Nativity in Rancho Santa Fe. She is missed by all who knew her. Published in U-T San Diego on Jan. 19, 2014
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