Gladys Mosel Wortham, longtime resident of Pearland, Texas passed away May 2, 2024 at 91 years of age. Gladys was born in Buckeye, Texas in Matagorda County on August 18, 1932 to Arthur Alvin (“Bud”) Rose and Sudie Rose (nee Hodge). She was the third child of Bud and Sudie and their third daughter. Gladys was one of seven total Rose family children raised on Cedar Creek outside of Bay City, Texas where Bud farmed land owned by the widow down the road while Sudie ruled the home. Perhaps Gladys’ keen intellect resulted in her being what might be termed a precocious child based on stories from her childhood.
Gladys graduated from Bay City’s Van Vleck High School. After graduation, she moved to Houston and accepted employment at Gray Tool Company, an oilfield tool manufacturer, where her older sister worked. There she met Howard Whiddon, whom she married in 1952 and had two children, Howard Voss Whiddon, Jr. and Douglas Allen Whiddon. Soon after the birth of Doug, her youngest, the family moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma and then Oklahoma City in connection with Howard’s career. Gladys loved Oklahoma City and once the boys were older, she took employment with R.T. Ayres Chevrolet and later Jackie Cooper Oldsmobile. She ultimately rose to be Jackie Cooper’s personal secretary.
After approximately 13 years in Oklahoma City, Gladys and her family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, again in connection with Howard’s career. This move proved to be challenging for the family and especially Gladys. After two years, however, Howard transferred to London, England in 1972 and she became an “ex-pat.” Gladys enjoyed England, new friends and the unique opportunities provided but also missed being close to her siblings and wider family. This “tour” ended in late-1976 when she and Howard returned to Houston. With the boys grown, she quickly returned to what became long-term employment at Gray Tool Company. Gladys and Howard subsequently divorced and Gladys later married Bobby Wortham in 1988 whom she met at Gray Tool. They enjoyed their life together until Bobby’s death in 2014.
Gladys was a faithful servant of the Lord and studied her bible and its teachings daily. She loved to garden over the years and always had the most verdant house on the street. She never missed an opportunity to watch her boys, and later their children, play sports, always providing vigorous vocal support and coaching advice. However, she loved nothing better than being with her extended family at holidays, reunions or any occasion at which they could gather.
Gladys was preceded in death by Aurthur Alvin Rose and Sudie Rose, her mother and father; brothers Arthur Allen Rose and Alvin Rose; sisters Pearlene Robinson and Sybil Redick and husbands Howard Whiddon and Bobby Wortham.
Gladys is survived by sisters Aylene and Bernice; sister-in-law Susan Rose; sons Howard Jr. and Doug and their respective wives Cathy and Alison; four grandchildren, Shawn Christian Whiddon and his wife April, Lauren Renee Vasquez (nee Whiddon) and her husband Aaron, Andrew Conner Whiddon and Brian Patrick Whiddon and his wife Taylor and six great grandchildren, Emily Elaine Whiddon, Landon Carter Kerkmaz, Cruz Alexander Vasquez, Hunter Voss Whiddon, Christian Scott Vasquez and Ellie Jane Whiddon.
In lieu of flowers, Gladys’ family suggests donations in her name made to the Forgotten Angels Foundation located at 6302 Broadway Street #240, Pearland, Texas 77581, (832) 243-5925. [email protected]
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