Obituary of Gloria W. Dobson

Gloria Wilson Dobson passed away from an untimely death due to COVID-19 on January 6, 2021, The Feast of the Epiphany, in the loving presence of her three children at St Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY. She was 92 years young.

Gloria was born in Lynn, MA on June 15, 1928, to the late Harold Clifford Wilson and Mary Jane MacDougall Wilson.

Anyone who met Gloria would tell you she was the epitome of a people person. She was always looking for the next conversation and person she hadn’t met yet, ultimately trying to create a more friendly and positive world in which she had major success. Even during her waning days at St Peter’s hospital, the nurses there exclaimed how joyful, happy, and graceful she was despite the suffering she endured. 

Gloria spent her childhood growing up in Lynn, and spent much time by the ocean on Lynn Beach. She also loved her youthful summers at the old family homestead on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. She was the youngest of five siblings.

After graduating high school from Lynn English, she received a secretarial certificate and worked at the Tea Room on Newbury Street in Boston. She also spent her younger years working for the Lynn Blanch Magee Tuberculosis Fund Raising Campaign and the Electric Mutual Claims Processing center.

Volunteering was a priority and a huge part of her life. This included being a religious education  teacher, Eucharistic minister, involvement with the Mohawk County Hiking Club, 4-H, and various school-parent organizations. During her time in “retirement” in Sarasota, FL she focused on children, including the “rockin” readers program, “take stock” in children mentor program and a facilitator with the child protective services for family visits. She was constantly giving back and rarely taking.

She met her true love, Robert Dobson, during a ski adventure in Jackson, NH as part of the Es”ski”mo Ski Club. They were married on May 11, 1958, at St. Joseph’s Church in Lynn. They were married for 53 years.

In 1963 she moved to Schenectady, NY and lived near Central Park with their newborn baby, Elizabeth on Hampton Avenue. As the family expanded, with the addition of Christopher and Matthew, they moved to the hamlet of Woodhaven in Glenville.  Here Gloria made great, life-long friends and it was there where her zeal for life helped to build a beautiful community setting of holiday backyard parties that always included a batch of her famous, Boston, baked beans. 

While raising the three children she began a wonderful career at the Niskayuna High School as a Media Center Assistant which included helping to bring computer technology into the school setting. Of course, during this career from 1979 thru the early 90s, she not only worked as the media assistant but served as a favorite friendly “informal” counselor for many high school students.

Recreation was also a large part of Gloria’s life whether on the tennis court, behind a hand of cards of gin rummy, or playing through a full 15 rounds of Mexican train dominoes, you could always count on a  competitive game from Gloria.

Following her salty sailor husband’s lead, in 1993 they moved into full “retirement” by relocating and spending over twenty-five years in Sarasota, FL where more life-long dear friends were made. In early 2020, she came back to New York to be closer to family and friends.

Gloria is survived by her loving daughter Elizabeth Dobson-Davis of Glenville, NY, and sons and daughter-in-laws Christopher and Cindy Dobson of Burnt Hills, NY, and Matthew and Tonya Dobson of Burlington, NC. Granddaughters Phoebe Davis and Myla Dobson and grandsons William Davis, Luke Dobson, Jackson Dobson, Maxwell Dobson. As well as nieces Margaret Schenkel, Gretchen, Lisa, and Susan Wollerscheid, nephews Tom Wilson and Ed Dobson, great-nephews Patrick and Kevin Wilson, and cousins Thirza “Maggie” Johnson, Kacie Carlson, Monte Thompson, and Mary McNeal.

Gloria was preceded in death by her brothers Harold (Buddy) and Douglas Wilson, sisters Pauline Kennedy and Muriel Wollershied, son-in-law Kernan Davis, niece Judy Hood and nephew Buddy Wilson.

Her devotion to God, family, and doing work for others was the foundation of her beautiful life. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for the family on Saturday, January 30th at Immaculate Conception Church, Glenville NY. The Mass will be live streamed at 9 AM on the Immaculate Conception Church Facebook page. A celebration of life will be held at a time when we can ALL be together again. In remembrance of Gloria please consider a donation to a charity of your choice or the City Mission of Schenectady. Online condolences at glenvillefuneralhome.com