Gloria Pipkins Springer was born on December 4, 1936 to the late Estella Morgan and Paul Springer in St. Louis, Missouri. Gloria was raised by George and Lilian Springer of Pine Bluff, AR. After Lilian's death, they relocated to Little Rock, AR. George later married Aunt Veola (Pie) Springer and they raised Gloria until she was an adult.
Gloria attended Catholic school in Pine Bluff and later attended Dunbar Jr. and Senior High School,
where she played basketball and was a standout as a majorette.
Gloria wed William Wagner in 1963, to this union, two sons were born William Jr. and Kenneth Wagner.
In the late 60's, Gloria began her career as an employee at Timex, and was employed for over 30 years.
Following Bill Wagner's death in 1979, Gloria continued to work and raise her two sons.
In 1983, she married Kenneth Henderson.
Throughout her life, Gloria always maintained a strong connection to all her relatives. With sons in tow,
she would spend many weekends with family at Springer's Bar-b-que restaurant and always made time to visit her sisters and brothers. Gloria was an exceptional cook, especially known for her one of a kind cornbread dressing, which was always the highlight of every Holiday gathering.
She also was involved in various neighborhood clubs, focusing strongly on female involvement with community issues. Gloria especially loved music and would always instill that to her sons, having radios in various rooms of the house and the stereo filled with old and new albums and 45s. On Christmas, she would make sure that the kids would have the latest electronic gadgets of that year. She got joy from helping others and always opened her heart and home to anyone in need. Most of all,
she loved her sons dearly and would always provide and care for them with all her heart.
Gloria departed this life on Thursday, June 13, 2019 at UAMS Hospital.
She was preceded in death by her parents Paul Springer and Estella Morgan, and siblings George Pipkin, Shirley Brown, Des Springer, Dorothy Walters and Charles Jordan. Gloria leaves to cherish her memory her loving and devoted sons, William and Kenneth Wagner, her granddaughter Kristal McKeever, great-grandsons Dayton and Mason McKeever, siblings Joseph (Linda) Jordan Jr. of Las Vegas, NV, Rita (Billy) O'Donald of Little Rock, Doris Murphy of North Little Rock, sister-in-law Gloria Jordan of Little Rock, and cousins Delores Godley of Chicago, IL, James Springer, Paul Springer, Charles Springer, Constance Springer of Little Rock.
