Gloria Ann Wing

Our community has lost one of its most valued citizens.

MORRISVILLE: Gloria Ann Wing passed away peacefully, on October 28, 2024, at the enviable age of 93. She was surrounded by an incredible amount of love from her family and close friends. Her mind stayed sharp, but her body was tired.

Some of Gloria's last words were, "I've lived a wonderful life"! While most of us would be lucky to make a difference in one person's life during their time on this Earth, Gloria's 70+ years of caring, nurturing, volunteering, and mentoring made our community, and many peoples' lives, better for decades.

Gloria was born in Morristown on July 5, 1931, the youngest daughter of Edward and Amy (Sparks) Wing. She started making her mark at an early age, graduating as Valedictorian of Peoples' Academy, Class of 1949, where she excelled in sports and was named to the Vermont Basketball All-Stars three years in a row. Her nickname on the court was Ol' Eagle Eye because she had such deadly accuracy at shooting baskets.

After high school, she attended Mary Fletcher School of Nursing. Always the over-achiever, she quickly rose through the ranks to become Supervisor at Mary Fletcher, Roger Williams, Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, WA, and Miriam Hospital in Providence, RI.

Gloria returned to Morrisville in 1976 as Vice President of Nursing at Copley Hospital where she worked until her retirement in 1985. Retirement didn't slow her down much as she continued serving as a trusted health resource to her family and friends until her passing.

Gloria wasn't one to sit still for long. She started working for the Town of Morristown in a few different roles - Administrative Assistant, Zoning Administrator, Selectboard member, and Village Trustee. She also served for many years as a Trustee for the Alexander Hamilton Copley Fund and the Copley/Munson Fund and served in the Vermont State Legislature from 1986 to 1990.

Her tireless volunteer work was far-reaching - Lamoille Home Health, Lamoille County Planning Commission, Moderator and Trustee for the First Congregational Church, and Pleasant View Cemetery Association. The former Lamoille County Civic Association was renamed 'The Wing Center' in her honor, in 2023. She served as President of the organization until three months before her passing.

She recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lamoille County Planning Commission, and, if you drive up to Pleasant View Cemetery, you will see a beautiful obelisk honoring her work with the Morristown Cemetery Commission. She was named a WCAX Super Senior in 2024.

Gloria was proud of her work with the Morristown Veteran's Memorial, and starting the beautiful gardens at Copley Hospital, which was named after her father, Edward Wing.

She balanced her work, volunteer, and personal life by traveling with her sister, Shirley, to Europe, taking lots of ocean cruises, and visiting almost all 50 states. She loved taking pictures of her life and travels, tending to her gardens, reading, reading, reading, and talking on the phone with her many long-distance friends. As an avid reader, Gloria was well-versed in just about everything, but she was not a fan of modern technology! Always stubborn and determined though, she learned how to use email at 90 years old.

Gloria is survived by her nephews, Christopher Conrad and wife Christie, Michael Conrad and wife Audrey, and niece in law, Jami Conrad. She was predeceased by her parents, her sister, Shirley Conrad, brother-in-law, Richard Conrad, and nephew, Kevin Conrad. She is also survived by her best friends, Linda and Richard Hebert, and Judy Stancliff.

A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 pm on Sunday, November 17, 2024,  at the United Community Church in Morrisville with a reception following in the church dining hall.

Donations may be made to the United Community Church at 85 Upper Main St., P.O. Box 475, Morrisville, VT 05661 or The Wing Center at 24 Upper Main Street, PO Box 844, Morrisville VT 05661.

Arrangements are in the care of Dian R. Holcomb of Northern Vermont Funeral Service, 60 Elm Street, Hardwick. Online condolences are welcomed at: northernvermontfuneralservice.com