Obituary: Gloria Gean Quesinberry

Gloria Gean Godfrey Quesinberry, 91, a longtime Winter Garden resident, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022. She was born May 31, 1931, in Warsaw, Indiana, to Gerald and Rachel Godfrey, and she grew up in Muncie, Indiana.

Gloria spent many hours volunteering throughout her adult life — in schools as a homeroom mom and in PTA; at the West Orange Christian Service Center; with the Bloom & Grow Garden Society; and at her church.

She dedicated her life to the First United Methodist Church of Winter Garden and served on numerous committees and boards. She was named the church’s Disciple of the Year in 1994. She belonged to the Idea Seekers and Candlelight women’s circles for decades and made lifelong friends in those groups.

Gloria loved gardening and created beautiful yards at every home she lived in. She helped beautify many spaces around West Orange County as a member of the Bloom & Grow garden club.

She spent her life caring for others and enjoyed cheering up people with her homemade chocolate chip cookies, pies and other baked goods.

The Quesinberry home always was the gathering place for the family during the holidays and for birthdays. Gloria enjoyed hosting large parties for friends as well. She loved spending quality time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and with her friends.

Gloria was preceded in death in 2017 by her husband of 52 years, former Winter Garden Mayor Jack Quesinberry; and her sister, Becky Casey.

Gloria and Jack met at Riley Elementary School. They attended McKinley Jr. High School and graduated together from Muncie Central High School in 1949. In early 1965, their paths crossed again in Muncie and they were married Aug. 27 of that year. They lived in Windermere for a few years before moving to Winter Garden.

Survivors: children, Kathy (Tim) Taylor, Winter Garden, Rusty (Sharon) Jenkins, Clermont, Col. (Ret.) USAF Rory (Adria) Quesinberry, Tampa, Amy Quesinberry, Winter Garden, Jeni (Steve) McNeill, Orlando; grandchildren, Megan Cristello, Kelly Woods, Sara (Chris) Strange, Morgan Quesinberry, Al P. Couch, Adam Couch, Harrison McNeill, Jackson McNeill, Andrew McNeill, Benjamin McNeill; great-grandchildren, Raygan Cristello, Sayler Cristello, Adler Cristello, Piper Cristello, Jaden Woods, Leilani Woods; and two nieces, Pam Casey and Michelle (Craig) Ayers.

The celebration of life will take place Sunday, Oct. 23, at the First United Methodist Church of Winter Garden. The visitation is at 1 p.m., and the service is at 2 p.m., with a reception to follow. Gloria will be buried alongside Jack at Woodlawn Memorial Park, Gotha.

The family requests donations be made to the First United Methodist Church, 125 N. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden, FL 34787, and designated for the memorial garden or stained-glass windows.