Gloria Jirel

Gloria Marie Jirel of Corvallis died Tuesday. She was 86. Gloria was born in Bethel, Wash., to Churchill A. Jacobson and Mildred R. Winter Jacobson. She spent her early childhood in Washington and moved to Albany in June of 1930. She married Alton Benedict on June 2, 1940, and a daughter, Julie Ann, was born Sept. 8, 1941. Gloria and Alton divorced in 1944. She met her husband William “Jack” Jirel while serving as a USO hostess. He was in the Navy and was heading back overseas but the war ended while he was in Corvallis. After a short courtship, they married, and he adopted Julie. They had a wonderful life together and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Jan. 4, 2006. In June 1947, she started working for the Corvallis School District and worked there for nearly 35 years. She enjoyed her job very much. While working, she became involved in her professional association and was a charter member of the Oregon Association of Office Professionals. She served as president and later became president of the National Association of Office Professionals, which gave her the opportunity to travel all over the United States. After Bill and Gloria retired, they traveled. They especially enjoyed their trips to Switzerland, Austria, Canada and the Scandinavian countries. Gloria was a life member of the Corvallis Soroptomist Club and served as the president twice. She enjoyed her many friends and worked on projects to help many deserving groups. She also belonged to the Pinochle Club and enjoyed playing cards with friends for more than 50 years. She was a member of Timberhill Athletic Club and enjoyed exercise with her beloved friends who became her support group. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bill; and a sister, Maxine Allen. Gloria is survived by her daughter, Julie Jirel Reed, and son-in-law Steve Reed; brother, Robert E. Jacobson, and sister-in-law, Jobie Jacobson; nieces Patsy Pieschl and husband, Vaughn, of Albany, Diane Foster and husband, Ralph, of Florida, and Carol Benek and husband, Ron, of McMinnville; nephew, Jim Jacobson, and wife, KC; and several surrogate grandchildren. Gloria was loved very much by all who knew her. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, at the First Presbyterian Church in Corvallis. Memorials can be made to the church in care of the McHenry Funeral Home, 206 N.W. Fifth St., Corvallis, OR 97330.

Tributes

Gloria Jirel

February 17, 1922 - June 17, 2008