Gloria R. Ryder

Gloria R. Ryder passed quietly on Wednesday, 19 October 2016 at 2:21 p.m. in Tampa, FL. Gloria, nee Kazuko Yoden, was born in Nishinomya City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, the wife of the late LTC (Ret Army) Freddie O. Ryder and mother of Barbara A. Ryder, both of whom preceded her in death. Her father, Zengoro and mother, Machi Asakura Yoden, an older brother, Yoshio, and older sister, Sakai also preceded her in death. Gloria led an illustrious life, traveling as a military spouse from Japan to the U.S. and other countries around the world. She settled in the Tampa Bay Area in the late 1970s due to her late husband’s final military assignment at MacDill Air Force Base. Gloria built a reputation through her Japanese cooking classes, many taught through Baywinds, and was later featured in the local newspaper. She started a few short-run businesses ranging from catering in the local area to selling customized t-shirt designs in Lutz, FL and served as a chef in a few oriental restaurants. The later years led her back to one of her passions, painting, this time, in a medium she would soon master, watercolor. Her later paintings focused on traditional Japanese subjects and memories. Gloria’s zest for life, for interacting with people young and old, and hosting excellent dinner parties highlighted her genuine generosity and wonderful sense of humor, with ease and elegance no matter what circle she traveled. She is survived by her two daughters, Margaret (Ryder) Bierregaard of South Carolina and Kathleen Ryder of Tampa. Gloria is survived by five grand-children, Natalie Mecom (Rob) of Oklahoma; Marissa Corchran (James) of New York; and Melissa Ryder Kihima (Nick), Matthew Williams (Shana), and Jennifer Williams (Jay) from Minnesota; plus 9 great-grandchildren, John Michael, Miranda, Mason, Emma, Jaren, Breckin, Braden, Raegan, and Reid. Gloria’s surviving family in Japan includes siblings, brother Etsuo (Sachiko) and two sisters Michiko and Mitsuko.