Obituaries / LJWorld.com

Obituaries

Gloria Wong Byers died peacefully, in her sleep, 7 March 2012 at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor.
She was born 3 December 1926, in Macau, coastal China, daughter of Mr. KC Wong and Mrs. F. K. Wong. Her family included a sister and three brothers. The family moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, where Gloria attended Punahou School (K-12), graduating in 1946.
She took nurse training in Philadelphia, and when war began in Korea, 1950, she joined the United States Army Nurse Corps as a Second Lieutenant. Later she was transferred to a hospital near the front line, in Korea, to care for wounded soldiers.
Upon completion of her tour of duty in Korea, Gloria was assigned to Walter Reed Army Hospital, Washington, D.C. It was there that she met her future husband, George, who also had recently returned from Army duty in Korea. Months later, they were married, in the Chapel of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 16 December 1955.
When George completed military duty and took a teaching position at the University of Kansas, Gloria served briefly in the hospital at Fort Riley Kansas, retiring as a Captain, A.N.C., then came to Lawrence.
Gloria and George have three sons, Bruce (born 1958), Brian (1964), and Douglas (1965). She was a devoted mother, but when her boys no longer required full-time attention, Gloria served as a part-time nurse with some local doctors and at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
Gloria is survived by her husband, by son Bruce, his wife Cynthia and daughter Tiana, Brian, his wife Dana, son Evan and daughter Emily, and Douglas, his wife Terra and sons George and Isaac, all of Lawrence. Also surviving are her brothers, Richard, wife Evelyn, and Walter, wife Nancy, of Honolulu.
Gloria was an enthusiastic fan of K.U. sports, particularly basketball.
A private graveside service will be held, the family will welcome friends at a reception Saturday, 10 March, 2-4 p.m. at 2707 Oxford Rd.
The family requests no flowers, but contributions in memory of Gloria may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Online condolences may be sent to www.warrenmcelwain.com.