Obituary for Gloria A. Oates

Gloria A. Oates, 87 of Kenton passed away on Sunday, January 14, 2024.  She was born in Marysville, Ohio on August 4, 1936 to the late Francis and Evelyn (Warner) Drumm.  On July 1, 1962 she married Walter H. Oates and he preceded her in death on January 27, 2003.  Surviving are her children; Mike (Anya) Oates of Dublin, Tom Oates of Lakeview, Tammy Oates Landon of Kenton, grandchildren; Brandon Oates of Long Beach, CA, Miah (Widman) and Robert Wurtsbaugh of Marysville, Alena Oates of Fairfax, VA, Phillip Oates of Coumbus, Robert Landon of Kenton, Brindley Landon of Broadway, Ohio and five great grandchildren.  Gloria is also survived by three of her thirteen siblings; Wilma Drumm Noonan of Columbus, Francis (Marie) Drumm, Jr of San Bernadino, CA and Rodney (Patsy) Drumm of Marysville. 

Gloria was active in or supported many organizations including; Walnut Grove Church, Walnut Grove United Methodist Women, Hardin County Farm Bureau, Ohio Pork Produces, Hardin County Council on Aging, Hardin County YMCA, Hardin County Junior Fair Livestock Sales, Hardin Northern Band & Athletic Boosters, several Christian Ministries & Military/Veterans organizations, including the United States Air Force Academy Northwest Ohio Parents Club as well as countless Red Cross Blood Drives here in Hardin County where she gave untold liters of blood over the decades to help save lives. She was also a Vocational Agriculture FFA Honorary Chapter Farmer.

Gloria had a strong faith in the One True Living God of the Bible. She loved being a mom and grandmother, having daily devotions & supporting her husband Walter’s activities on the farm whenever able. She wholeheartedly believed in the power of prayer, and the importance of reading & following scripture. She enjoyed gardening & canning for many years, and every Sunday after church she would drive to Marysville to meet up with several remaining family members at McDonald’s. She also was able to do a little international traveling to Mexico, Germany, Austria and France. Upon becoming a widow, she increased her efforts for over a decade managing the Capital City marketing Company’s Distributions Center in Alger, Ohio. During that time she also loved driving to visiting many shut-ins before eventually becoming one herself. Over the years, Gloria had a love for various animals. From having a Saint Bernard, Fox Terrier, Hamster, 2 Boxers & countless stray cats, she eventually transitioned from domesticated animals to providing (unintentionally) a wildlife sanctuary for numerous groundhogs, raccoons, sparrows, swallows, pigeons, and an occasional owl & cardinal, as well as several other smaller critters that sought shelter in the white barns on her homestead. Later in life she was still going to the YMCA 3 times a week until the age of 85, and spent 2 to 3 hours every evening doing word search puzzles & talking on her iPhone with various family members while listening to the TV run in the background.

Visitation for Gloria will be held on Sunday, January 21, 2024 from 1:00 – 4:00 PM at the SCHINDEWOLF-STOUT-CRATES FUNERAL HOME.  A funeral service will begin at 11:00 AM on Monday, January 22, 2024 at Walnut Grove Church where additional visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until the time of service.  Burial will follow in Grove Cemetery.  Online condolences can be expressed to the family by visiting stoutcrates.com.