Gladys Doris Larson

Gladys D. Larson was born in London, England, on August 10th, 1928 and lived a remarkable life of 91 years. Gladys grew up in the English country. In her youth, she endured rationing and hardships while Great Britain fought WWII. Soon after the US entered the war, she met an American serving in the 8th Air Force, Melvin F. Larson. The two were married in the town of Thetford, Norfolk on October 14th, 1944. War duties briefly separated the young couple. Undaunted and adventurous, Gladys traveled across the Atlantic during the war to reach the States. She navigated alone from New York to meet her husband’s family in Worcester, MA. Gladys became a US citizen in 1948. Melvin and Gladys were married for 64 years until Melvin’s death in 2008. Together, they traveled the world and raised four children, each born on a different part of the globe with three born while Melvin served twenty-three years in the US Air Force. During Melvin’s service, Gladys helped in hospitals as a nurse’s aide in many states. Always resilient, Gladys and her family withstood Typhoon Karen when it ravaged Guam in 1962.

After the Air Force, Melvin and Gladys settled in Washington State and soon had their fourth child, a son, as their first son and two daughters reached adulthood. Gladys worked in banking for many years, and assisted Melvin after he became an Anglican-Episcopal priest. Gladys tapped her country roots to grow fertile vegetable gardens. She made good use of their bounty in her kitchen as a skilled cook and baker. Along with her sister Amelia, Gladys was an accomplished and prolific knitter. The two would sell their wares at craft bazaars. That was one of many joys the sisters shared in their later years.

Gladys passed away on September 7th, 2019. She will be laid to rest at Floral Hills in Lynnwood, Washington on Sept. 20th, 2019 alongside her husband, Melvin. Gladys is survived by her four children, Richard, Terry, Bonnie, and Bruce, six grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. Gladys will be deeply missed and remembered with love by her family, and the many who knew her in her long and storied life.