LONGORIA, GLADYS LEWALLEN (1916 ~ 2012). The following is an obituary for Gladys Lewallen Longoria, wife of David Longoria, Assistant Attorney General of Texas. The obituary was published in the June 26, 2012 edition of the Austin American Statesman.
Gladys Lewallen Longoria - Born May 3, 1916 in Van Alstyne, Texas to Oscar and Daisy King Lewallen and from age two years and was reared in Nolan County in West Texas. She graduated from Blackwell High School in 1932 and received her Bachelor and Master's degrees in 1936 and 1948 from University of North Texas in Denton. She taught girls Health and Physical Education and Biology classed in Rio Grande City, Texas from 1936 through 1941 school terms.
She met David Longoria, also a teacher, and they married in April 1940. Gladys began working as a caseworker in late 1941 with then called the State Department of Public Welfare in Starr County. She and her husband moved to Laredo during World War II during which time David was drafted into military service. Gladys taught briefly in Laredo schools but went to work for a year or more with the US Postal Censorship (a war time project). In late 1945 she began working as a caseworker for the Webb County Chapter of the American Red Cross. After the war and David's return, they moved to Austin in 1947 as he planned to enter the University of Texas Law School.
Gladys continued to work with the Red Cross Chapter in Austin. In 1952 she was made Director of Service to Military Families and Veterans. She continued this role until her retirement in June 1978. During the period from 1970 to her retirement the local chapter was then the Capital Area Division covering 27 counties. Her responsibilities broadened to cover this territory. During her 33 years of Red Cross service, she took advantage of training classes offered by the National Office of ARC. She became an instructor in the Art of Helping and Emergency Services in Disaster.
Subsequent to her retirement she became a volunteer in the local chapter and reserve disaster worker for the National Red Cross. She wrote in book form "I gave at the Office my years with the American Red Cross." She was inducted into the "Hall of Fame" of American Red Cross National Headquarters in April 1996. Gladys was active member of Catholic Daughters of Americas for many years, was Regent for two terms with a local court and held numerous other positions to include Chairman for the State CDA Convention held in Austin in 1992. She was also a charter member of the Austin Lawyers Wives Auxiliary, organized 1950.
Gladys was preceded in death by her husband, who died May 24, 1984; her brother, James Francis Lewallen, who died in Japanese Prison Camp, WWII and brother, Marvin Lewallen of Hico, Texas who died in April 1998. She is survived by her four children Henrietta Sweet of Austin, David King Longoria and wife Jan of Harlingen, James Longoria and wife Cathy of Spicewood, Beverly Longoria of Austin; nine grandchildren: Angela Slupe of Round Rock, David S. Longoria of Santa Rosa, TX, Michael Longoria & wife, Belinda of San Benito, TX, David Sweet of Mobile, AL, Andrew Sweet of Stuttgardt, Germany, Nathaniel Pasley & wife Hillary of Austin, Traci & Jason Abati, Port Carbon, PA, Jennifer & Phillip Graves, Harlingen, TX, Amanda Cantu, Harlingen TX and nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by brother, G.K. Lewallen and wife Nita of Stephenville, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, Gladys would appreciate memorial gifts be made to the American Red Cross of Central Texas, Austin, Catholic Daughters of Americas, Court No. 115 in care of St. Mary Cathedral, Austin or charity of choice . The family would like to thank Heart to Heart Hospice for all of the loving care they provided. The family will receive friends from six o'clock to eight o'clock in the evening on Tuesday the 26th of June, at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin Texas. A rosary will be recited at seven o'clock in the evening.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at half past nine o'clock in the morning on Wednesday, the 27th of June 2012, at St. Mary's Cathedral, 203 East 10th Street, Austin, Texas with the Reverend Albert Laforte officiating. Interment will follow at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas. We have been enriched by your presence, and forever grateful that you have always been a servant to God, a lover to your Family, Friends, and Humanity. We will miss you. We send you to Heaven with our Blessings. Send your Angels our way. We welcome them and always you. Condolences may be made at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome. com.
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