Obituary of Gloria T. Wilson

Gloria Tafralian Wilson October 31, 1942 – September 27, 2019 Gloria(“Glo”) Wilson died of cardiac arrest at Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis on September 27, 2019.She was 76 years old. Glo was born in Boston MA on October 31, 1942.Her parents were Alexander Haig Tafralian and Alice Hogan Fitzgerald.She had an older sister, Patricia..Until the age of seven,Glolived in Cambridge, MA, among her Armenian relatives.After her family moved to Manchester, NH, they continued to attend family gatherings, where she learnedArmenian cooking from her immigrant grandmother, who had survived the Armenian Genocide.This allleft Glo with a strong and proud sense of her Armenian heritage. Glograduated from Central High School in Manchester in 1960, and moved to Berkeley CA to live with her sister and brother in law.She attended Contra Costa College in San Pablo, CA, and two years later transferred to the University of California at Berkeley., studying ancient history.At CCC, she met Tom Wilson, who was also to attend Cal after CCC.After their first date, they were a couple for life. Glo worked her way through college using work study programs and finding work during holiday breaks and during the summer.. After graduating, Glo continued working at Cal.These were interesting times in Berkeley – the Free Speech Movement, People's Park protests, and anti-war demonstrations.Rather than go into detail about her experiences, it is sufficientto say thatshe knew and never forgot what it's like to be teargassed. Tom was drafted in 1965, discharged in 1968,and after returning home,he and Glo lived together in Berkeley. In 1970, their son Tom Haig Wilson was born. On October 31, 1971, they marriedand immediately moved to Oregon.In 1972 they bought an old farmhouse onTum Tum Creek in Blodgett.In 1973, their daughter Siranoush Sue Wilson was born, andtheir son Aram Gabriel Tafralian Wilson was born in 1974. Glo became very active in the local community.She was president of the Blodgett-Summit Community Club for several years, initiating several successful fundraising activities, including editing two very successful cookbooks featuring recipes from local residentsShe wrote the Blodgett and Summit community news for the Benton Bulletin.She was a 4-H cooking club leader.She actively supportedcandidates during school board elections,She served on the CitizensAdvisory Committee for land use planning in the Blodgett-Summit area.Her front porch served as the center for the distribution of government surplus foods to needy families in western Benton County. She introduced a new fund raising event for the Community Club – the potluck Dime-a-DipDinner and Pie Auction, which continues to this day and provides funds for three scholarships for students who have attended Blodgett School.Her Benton Bulletin articles started the campaign to save the old Summit church and move it to a new site to serve as the Summit Community Center.She was an outspoken advocate of the principles of the 1st amendment, and in 1988 , was was given a Civil Liberties Commendationaward by the American Civil Liberties Union for her successful effort to remove religious activities during high school graduation ceremonies. Glo was one of the co-founders of the Benton County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving and served as itsfirst president..She also served on the Governor's Commission onViolent Crimes. During this time she met many victims of drunk driving and other crimes,and her experience led her to a position as a victim advocate with the Benton County District Attorney's Office.She eventually became Director of Victims Services. Subsequently, sheworked for the Philomath Police Dept for a few years and then retired. Glo was a great Boston Red Sox fan, and live streamed every Boston Red Sox game on her laptop.Glo enjoyed trips with Tom and her grandchildren to casinos in Oregon and Nevada and trips to Boston with Tom to visit her relatives and attend a Red Sox game.While raising her children, she enjoyed canning juices, fruits, and pickles, winning several blue ribbons at the Benton County Fair.She warmly welcomed everyone into her home, and over the years many ofher childrens' friendscame and camped out on Tum Tum Creek and they all called her Mamaglo. She spent her time in retirement helping her son Aram raise his children in her home. She is survived by her husband Tom, children Tom H. Wilson, Siranoush Wilson, Aram Wilson, and grandchildren Kapriel Wilson and Mara Wilson. There will be a potluckcelebration of her life at the Blodgett School on Saturday, November 2 at3pm. Memorial donations may be made to the Blodgett-Summit Fire Dept QRT, P.O. Box 513, Blodgett, OR97326.