CARBONDALE, Kan. – Gloria Raye Knoblock, 77, of Carbondale, Kan., passed away Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at her home. She was born June 16, 1947, in Morgantown, W.V., the daughter of Dorothy Marie (Darr) Haigh and Earl Lee Haigh.
Gloria married James Francis Knoblock, December 16, 1979, in Miami, Okla. They shared more than 30 years together before his passing Sept. 12, 2011. Gloria had three children from a previous marriage, Fred, Gloria (Sissy), and Julie Ewing. Jim had four adult children from a previous marriage, Gary, Sandy, Theresa and Cheryl Knoblock. She and Jim had a daughter together, Jaime Lynn.
In the early 70s, Gloria was a housewife and sold jewelry and Tupperware. After her divorce from her first husband, she began working as a nursing secretary at Stormont-Vail Hospital, Topeka, Kan. When she met Jim, and after Jaime was born, she became a dietary aide at Brookside Manor Nursing Center, Overbrook, Kan., and then worked at a few different facilities in Topeka.
When Jim and Gloria moved away from Carbondale, where they lived for more than 18 years, she was the dietary manager at the hospital at Iola Kan. A few years later, they returned to Osage County, where she was employed in food services at several local schools up until her retirement. Gloria then still worked on occasion for the schools. Her love of children was obvious in every person she interacted with at the schools.
She was a member of the Cross Road Community Church, Scranton, Kan., where she was a Sunday school teacher when her children were very young. She also volunteered for vacation Bible school for many years after. She has said that teaching was her most cherished position. She loved working with children.
She will be remembered for her love of spending time with her family, including raising her brother and sister; her cooking and bread baking skills; planting flowers; her angel collection; and above all, her strong faith.
She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Maudie Curtis; her parents, Earl and Dorothy Haigh; husband, James Knoblock; brother, Earl Haigh Jr.; son, Fred Ewing; and two great-nephews, Billy Fridley and Phoenix Haigh.
Surviving family includes three daughters, Gloria McBurney and husband, Greg, of Carbondale, Julie Govier and husband, Chad, Lawrence, Kan., and Jaime Stout and husband, Ben, Lyndon, Kan.; sister, Sarah “Jane” Decker, Topeka; sister-in-law, Trudy Haigh, Burlingame, Kan.; and 13 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, a great-great-grandchild, multiple stepchildren, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
To celebrate Gloria’s life, a memorial service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, at the Cross Road Community Church, 512 Mason St., Scranton, Kan. Inurnment will follow at the Scranton Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to Help House and sent in care of Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, PO Box 268, Overbrook, KS 66524. Condolences can be left at www.lamb-roberts.com.
