Gladys Compton's Obituary
COMPTON, Gladys LillianGladys was born in Walla Walla, Washington, in her grandmother and grandfather Eddy’s home on August 29, 1911. Gladys died peacefully at the College Oak Nursing Home in Sacramento, California, on June 30, 2006, at age 94. When Gladys was three, her mother, Hattie (Eddy) Eke died of tuberculosis. Four years later, her father, David Eke, died of influenza. Gladys and her two older brothers, Carl and Elmo, were orphaned and went to live with their grandmother and grandfather Eke in Wisconsin. Later, their uncle Birger Eke took over the guardianship of the three along with his own six children.After graduating from Bruce Wisconsin High School, Gladys attended the two-year Donner Girl’s College in Milwaukee, WI, majoring in kindergarten teaching. Before graduating, she became ill with rheumatic fever. Upon recovering, she completed her education at the teacher’s college in Ladysmith, WI. In 1932 Gladys married Herbert Compton and moved to his family’s dairy farm in New Hutchison, WI. Gladys & Herbert celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at a party for friends and family given by their children in Santa Cruz, CA, in 1982. In all, they had 62 wonderful years together until Herbert’s death in 1994.As a young woman, Gladys was very active in the Island Lake Christian Church and served many years as a Sunday school teacher, Bible School teacher, church pianist, and organist. Throughout her adult life, her faith was of utmost importance to her and she was active in the Christian church wherever she was living. She also volunteered in fund collecting for the Red Cross, supported Missionary Societies and worked with senior citizens and foster children. She used a daily Bible reading as her guide and always had a kind word and a blessing for everyone.In May of 1934 Gladys had her first son, Marvin, and her second son, Robert, was born in December of 1943. In 1945 the family moved to Harvey, IL, where Gladys worked in Schwartz’s Department Store and the Singer Dress Shop. In 1955 Gladys, Herbert and Robert returned to Bruce where they raised beef and had a horse-riding academy. In 1963 Herbert retired from the farm and after touring the country for some time in a camper, they settled in Santa Cruz, CA, near their son Marvin and his wife Grace. In Santa Cruz, Gladys volunteered for the Salvation Army and Lion’s Club, who helped Herbert as his eyesight began to fail. In more recent years Gladys and Herbert moved first to Auburn and then to Antelope to live with their younger son. Blessed with a cheerful and loving nature, Gladys became grandmother to the neighborhood children, taught many friends and family members to crochet, and was a skilled quilter. She was the senior member of the Antelope Crimson Flashes Red-Hatters. Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her two sons. She is survived by a daughter-in-law, Grace Compton, of Reno, NV; brother-in-law Branch Compton of Matteson, IL; granddaughter, Jane Oh, of Antelope, CA; great-grandsons Barry and Dan Oh; first cousin Stan Noyes of Citrus Heights, CA; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. Gladys will be laid to rest next to her husband and son Robert in Bruce, Wisconsin. She was much loved and will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.
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