Obituary of Gloria Lorrain Grant

Gloria Lorrain (Warren) Grant was born May 7, 1931, on the family farm in rural Cambridge, Story County, Iowa.  She was the daughter of Otis John Warren and Bertha Lovina Severtson.  

Gloria attended school at Milford Township in Story County, graduating with the Class of 1948. She continued her education and attended Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa and later Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.  Her love of education led her to become a kindergarten teacher.  She taught in Adair, Nevada and finally Newton, Iowa, where she instilled her learning in the students at Thomas Jefferson and Emerson Hugh Schools.  She retired from teaching in the late 1960’s. 

 On June 24, 1952, Gloria married the love of her life, James Raymond Grant. Together, they decided to elope, and traveled to Chicago, Illinois. They were united in marriage by a Justice of the Peace.  They made their home in Nevada, Iowa before moving to Newton in 1956. Gloria became a member of First Lutheran Church serving on many committees throughout the years. She was a member of numerous clubs including the Jasper County Chorus, Aloha Club, 4H Club, Bluebirds and Church Women United, where she served in leadership roles. She taught Sunday School for several decades.  She was a current member of the Newton Creative Writing Group and was a published author in the “Our Iowa” magazine. Gloria loved her family most of all; she was the best mother and wife, patient and kind, to Mike, Darla, Connie and James. Gloria’s grandchildren and great grandchildren were the center of her life. She enjoyed baking cookies, sewing, gardening and reading her Bible.  Gloria had a smile and a kind word for everyone. 

On July 12, 2023, Gloria entered through the Gates of Glory and into her eternal reward with her Savior.  She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter Darla Jean (Grant) Swalwell; brother Wesley Otis Warren; sister Mavis Lovina (Warren) Nelson.

Those left to honor the memory of Gloria include her husband for 71 years, James Grant of Newton, son Mike (Vicki) Grant of Memphis, TN; daughter Connie (Blaine) Hudnall of Des Moines, IA; son-in-law Craig Swalwell of Maxwell, IA; 7 grandchildren: Mellissa (Randy) Hoskin of Austin, TX; Ryan (Erin) Swalwell  of Altoona, IA; Shane Swalwell of Maxwell, IA; Matthew (Ellen) Grant of Tuscaloosa, AL; Dan (Kimberly) Grant of Staunton, VA; Calleigh Hudnall of Des Moines, IA; and Brenna Hudnall of Des Moines, Iowa, 6 great-grandchildren Emma, Savannah, Samuel, Gabriel, Evelyn and Grant; a sister Lois Logan of Marion, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Thursday, July 20^th at First Lutheran Church in Newton.  A Facebook Live broadcast of the service will begin at 11:00 am on the Pence Reese Funeral Home and Cremation Services Facebook page.

A time of visitation with the family will be held from 10:00 am until 11:00 am Thursday, July 20th at the church.

Memorials may be designated in Gloria’s name to the First Lutheran Church and may be left at the church or at Pence Reese Funeral Home.