NORWICH – Gloria Jean Collar, 52, of County Road 19, passed away on Friday, May 25, 2012 at Community Memorial Hospital in Hamilton.
Born August 8, 1959 in New Berlin, Gloria was the daughter of Charles G. and Janet G. (Corby) Bishop. She married William Collar in Michigan on Sept. 16, 1976. Their early married life was spent in Norfolk, Virginia and Jacksonville Florida before settling down in the Norwich area. She attended the South Otselic schools and Morrisville College before moving to Oregon in 1995. While in Oregon, Gloria was a hostess at Canyon’s Restaurant at Crooked River Ranch and at The Brand in Redmond. She returned to Norwich in 2003 where she stayed until 2010 when she went to Pensacola, Florida to live with her son, PO1 Aaron Collar and his family for a year.
During her younger years, she enjoyed music and had a gift of song. Gloria was an avid walker, walking five miles every day. She also enjoyed gardening, growing gladiolus for several of the local florists. Gloria also had a passion for reading and her bible studies.
She fought a long and courageous battle with MS for the past decade. Although she was robbed of her mobility, she maintained her spirit and joy for life. Her bravery and love was shared with everyone; always concerned with how everyone else was doing. Her strength, devotion and love will be treasured and lives on in the hearts of all those that survive.
Gloria loved life, but her greatest love was her family, especially her grandchildren. She is survived by her three children, Janet Myers and her husband, Andrew, of Norwich, PO1 Aaron Collar and his wife, Roschell, of Pensacola, Florida and April Collar of Norwich; four grandchildren, Acacia and Andrew Myers and Allyza and Andrea Collar; four brothers, David Bishop of Sherburne, Arthur Bishop of Plymouth, Charles Bishop of Smith’s Creek, Michigan and Robert Bishop of Smyrna; two sisters, Linda Creller of Pennsylvania and Bonnie Wilcox of Mt. Upton. Several nieces and nephews also survive. She was predeceased by her brother, Terry Bishop who passed in 2010.
Funeral services for Gloria will be held at noon on Saturday at the Wilson Funeral Home. Friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Saturday from 11 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will take place at a later date in Woodlawn Cemetery in Hamilton.
Contributions in memory of Gloria may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Upstate New York Chapter, 1650 South Avenue, Suite 100 Rochester, NY 14620.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the Wilson Funeral Home website at: www.wilsonfh.com.