Welcome to the memorial page for
Gloria Hope Horning
October 20, 1925 ~ April 14, 2017 (age 91) 91 Years OldShare Tribute:
Gloria Hope Horning was born on October 20, 1925 in Saratoga Springs, New York. She had a sister, June, who was almost 5 years older. Ms. Gloria’s father worked as an accountant, while her mother took care of the children and the household. A few months after Gloria was born the family moved to Mobile, Alabama for her father’s new job. As a child, Gloria loved going fishing with her father. She remembers her father stopping at the market to buy fish on the off chance that they didn’t catch any that day.
Gloria graduated from Murphy High School in Mobile at the age of 15. Following her high school graduation, she continued her education at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri for one year before deciding to transfer to Louisiana State University. There she pursued a bachelor of music degree in vocal performance.
Following graduation from Louisiana State University she moved to New York City to be closer to her sister, June, and to pursue her dream of being a singer as a student at the Juilliard Opera Workshop. Gloria’s sister, June, worked as a TV producer for Kukla-Fran-Ollie and The Aldrich Family TV shows.
The two sisters traveled extensively in Europe as recreation hostesses, entertaining troops as part of the Army Special Units in Germany in 1952-1954. Gloria sang with the Winged Victory Chorus during her two year tour and was delighted to attend the Salzburg opera festival in 1952. Sadly, June passed away from cancer in her late 30’s.
While in Mobile, and later in New York, Gloria embarked on her career as an opera singer. Her strong soprano voice was featured in charity and television shows in Mobile and New Orleans in the early 1950s, sometimes with her sister, June. Gloria had the leading role of Violetta in the Mobile Opera Guild’s presentation of La Traviata. She also had the opportunity to sing for Ed Sullivan when he came to Mobile in 1954 for his “Toast of the Town” show with comedian, Joey Bishop. Gloria advanced her singing career, spending numerous hours rehearsing and performing in operas, including the chorus at the Greenwich Village Opera Company, Kate Smith’s TV Show and the Aldrich Family TV Show, as well as the Metropolitan Opera. While working on her singing career Gloria held a secretarial position in New York City. She received a call one day from President Johnson’s press secretary, Bill Moyers, requesting her to move to Washington D.C. and serve as a stenographer in the White House. She edited the official presidential transcripts for Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Dwight D. Eisenhower. She has fond memories of traveling to Lyndon B Johnson’s ranch in Texas, and to Puerto Rico and New England during her time as a stenographer. There she is with President Johnson in the Oval Office with reporters at left. After the White House, she was a Court Reporter for many well-known judges in DC courts until she retired.
Gloria’s favorite hobby was always singing. She sang as a paid soloist at the Methodist Church
of Alexandria for many years before transferring to the Westminster Presbyterian Church where
she was a member of the choir. In addition to the choir she was an active member in women groups and Bible study, sent cards to the sick, and prepared the weekly bulletins for Westminster Presbyterian Church. Gloria always enjoyed listening to Texaco’s radio opera program every Saturday from 1-4 and would sing along at home as she knew the words to almost every song. For many years Gloria and her friends used to purchase season tickets to events at the Kennedy Center, Arlington Symphony and Alexandria Symphony. She loved miniature poodles and had several over the years. “Jackie”, one of her miniature poodles, now lives with a foster family and came regularly to visit Gloria at Goodwin House.
At Goodwin House in recent years Gloria considered herself a “morning person”. She enjoyed waking up around 7am and getting her day started, and she used time in the shower to practice her singing! Gloria thoroughly enjoyed spending time outdoors when the weather was nice. Her favorite season was fall because of the cooler weather and the colorful trees. Reading, singing, and listening to music are all activities that provided satisfaction and peace of mind. Her favorite music genres included classical and opera, which both can be found on her music and memory iPod that she loved listening to in her room. She also preferred small group activities including arts and crafts, trips to the art center, Bible study, exercise, concerts, Food for Others service project, birthday parties, and coffee and chat groups. Gloria enjoyed visits from friends and Jackie during her time at Goodwin House and always wanted to talk about current events, not the past.
Gloria passed away after a very brief illness at Goodwin House on Friday, April 14, 2017. She had wonderful care at Goodwin House and we thank all of the staff members who worked with her and kept her in their hearts.
A Memorial Service in Celebration of the Life of Gloria Horning will be held in the Chapel at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2701 Cameron Mills Road, Alexandria, Virginia, at 11:00 am on Wednesday, May 17th, 2017. She will rest in the Columbarium at the Church. In lieu of flowers, Gloria requested that donations be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church Foundation or to the Salvation Army.
Gloria graduated from Murphy High School in Mobile at the age of 15. Following her high school graduation, she continued her education at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri for one year before deciding to transfer to Louisiana State University. There she pursued a bachelor of music degree in vocal performance.
Following graduation from Louisiana State University she moved to New York City to be closer to her sister, June, and to pursue her dream of being a singer as a student at the Juilliard Opera Workshop. Gloria’s sister, June, worked as a TV producer for Kukla-Fran-Ollie and The Aldrich Family TV shows.
The two sisters traveled extensively in Europe as recreation hostesses, entertaining troops as part of the Army Special Units in Germany in 1952-1954. Gloria sang with the Winged Victory Chorus during her two year tour and was delighted to attend the Salzburg opera festival in 1952. Sadly, June passed away from cancer in her late 30’s.
While in Mobile, and later in New York, Gloria embarked on her career as an opera singer. Her strong soprano voice was featured in charity and television shows in Mobile and New Orleans in the early 1950s, sometimes with her sister, June. Gloria had the leading role of Violetta in the Mobile Opera Guild’s presentation of La Traviata. She also had the opportunity to sing for Ed Sullivan when he came to Mobile in 1954 for his “Toast of the Town” show with comedian, Joey Bishop. Gloria advanced her singing career, spending numerous hours rehearsing and performing in operas, including the chorus at the Greenwich Village Opera Company, Kate Smith’s TV Show and the Aldrich Family TV Show, as well as the Metropolitan Opera. While working on her singing career Gloria held a secretarial position in New York City. She received a call one day from President Johnson’s press secretary, Bill Moyers, requesting her to move to Washington D.C. and serve as a stenographer in the White House. She edited the official presidential transcripts for Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Dwight D. Eisenhower. She has fond memories of traveling to Lyndon B Johnson’s ranch in Texas, and to Puerto Rico and New England during her time as a stenographer. There she is with President Johnson in the Oval Office with reporters at left. After the White House, she was a Court Reporter for many well-known judges in DC courts until she retired.
Gloria’s favorite hobby was always singing. She sang as a paid soloist at the Methodist Church
of Alexandria for many years before transferring to the Westminster Presbyterian Church where
she was a member of the choir. In addition to the choir she was an active member in women groups and Bible study, sent cards to the sick, and prepared the weekly bulletins for Westminster Presbyterian Church. Gloria always enjoyed listening to Texaco’s radio opera program every Saturday from 1-4 and would sing along at home as she knew the words to almost every song. For many years Gloria and her friends used to purchase season tickets to events at the Kennedy Center, Arlington Symphony and Alexandria Symphony. She loved miniature poodles and had several over the years. “Jackie”, one of her miniature poodles, now lives with a foster family and came regularly to visit Gloria at Goodwin House.
At Goodwin House in recent years Gloria considered herself a “morning person”. She enjoyed waking up around 7am and getting her day started, and she used time in the shower to practice her singing! Gloria thoroughly enjoyed spending time outdoors when the weather was nice. Her favorite season was fall because of the cooler weather and the colorful trees. Reading, singing, and listening to music are all activities that provided satisfaction and peace of mind. Her favorite music genres included classical and opera, which both can be found on her music and memory iPod that she loved listening to in her room. She also preferred small group activities including arts and crafts, trips to the art center, Bible study, exercise, concerts, Food for Others service project, birthday parties, and coffee and chat groups. Gloria enjoyed visits from friends and Jackie during her time at Goodwin House and always wanted to talk about current events, not the past.
Gloria passed away after a very brief illness at Goodwin House on Friday, April 14, 2017. She had wonderful care at Goodwin House and we thank all of the staff members who worked with her and kept her in their hearts.
A Memorial Service in Celebration of the Life of Gloria Horning will be held in the Chapel at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2701 Cameron Mills Road, Alexandria, Virginia, at 11:00 am on Wednesday, May 17th, 2017. She will rest in the Columbarium at the Church. In lieu of flowers, Gloria requested that donations be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church Foundation or to the Salvation Army.
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