Gloria Wolbach

Wolbach, Gloria Gloria (Gray) Wolbach, 88, of Grand Island died on Friday, June 27, 2014 at her home. Services will be at 10:30 am on Monday, July 7th, at St. Stephens Episcopal Church. Rev. Robert Lewis will officiate. Burial will follow in the Grand Island City Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Sunday, July 6th at All Faiths Funeral Home. Gloria was born on August 1, 1925, in McPherson, Kansas to Lucien and Betty (Chamberlain) Gray. There are no survivors of her immediate family. Those left to cherish her memory are her dear friends, Tom and Kim Dinsdale, Janie Watson, her nieces and nephews, Sam and Linda Dreher of North Carolina; David and Lydia Dreher and Mary Carolyn and Jim Wise of Kansas City, Missouri; Ann and Steve Richardson of Hutchinson, Kansas; Dorothy Gray of Wichita, Kansas; two stepchildren, Louise (Peppy) Bahr of Rancho Santa Fe, California, and William V. Wolbach of Kansas City, Missouri. She was welcomed into heaven by her parents; son Spencer; daughter, Betty; husbands, Robert F. Pocednik and S. N. (Bud) Wolbach, and brother, Dr. Lucien Gray. Gloria graduated from Kansas University in 1947 with a degree in Theater Arts. She married and moved to Salina, Kansas, where she and her husband owned an FM radio station. After the birth of her two children, she became a fulltime mother. Along with her enjoyment of home, husband and children, she became involved in many community activities. She helped found the St. John’s Hospital Pediatric League. After many charity balls and home talent shows, the Pediatrics Center was established. She also co-founded the Salina Charities League which raised money for worthy and needed causes for the city. Thus was created the Salina Charities Golf Tournament. She was also very active in her church and was the first woman ever elected to St. John’s Lutheran Church Council. After the death of her husband in 1969 and surviving breast cancer, she became involved in counseling other women diagnosed with breast cancer. Two years after the death of her husband, her 17-year-old son Spencer was killed in an automobile accident. Despite this loss, she became very involved in being a busy mother with her daughter, Betty; she rejoined the workforce, becoming a real estate agent. In 1978 she married S. N. (Bud) Wolbach, moved to Grand Island and learned to say “Go Big Red.” Over the next 28 years she and Bud did lots of traveling, entertaining and worked diligently in civic and church activities. Bud passed away in 2006. Gloria served two terms on St. Stephens Episcopal Church Vestry and two terms on Grand Island Community Foundation Board. She was involved with Crane Meadows, Arthritis Foundation, Heartland Events Center, Stuhr Museum, and was instrumental in building “Kids Kingdom,” and she founded the S. N. Bud and Gloria charitable foundation founded in 2013. In 1997 she founded and organization known as AOK Ladies (Acts of Kindness). The 80 women members have only one purpose and that is to spread kindness. Their motto is “Kindness can be just as contagious as violence and hate.” Gloria received numerous awards, including: in 1995, Goodwill Volunteer of the Year; in 1997, Heartland United Way Citizen of the Year; in 1998, Bud and Gloria were named Grand Island Independent Man and Woman of the Year. This was the only time the Independent selected a couple for this honor. 1999, Outstanding Fund Raiser of the Year, selected by the National Society Fund Raising Executives (NSFR); 2011, Bud and Gloria were selected to be in the Grand Island Community College Hall of Fame. Gloria and Bud were Grand Marshal at the Harvest of Harmony Parade. Gloria chose happiness and doing for others as a way of life. She often said, “One of my happiest and greatest blessings was when God gave me 28 special years being married to Bud Wolbach.” Memorials may be given to Grand Island Community Foundation, Stuhr Museum or to St. Stephens Episcopal Church.

Gloria Wolbach

August 1, 1925 - June 27, 2014

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

Gloria Wolbach

August 1, 1925 - June 27, 2014

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support