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The lighting of a Memorial Candle not only provides a gesture of sympathy and support to the immediate family during their time of need but also provides the gift of extending the Book of Memories for future generations.
Vondel Smith Mortuary
6934 South Western Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
UNITED STATES
73139
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Burial will follow at Maple grove Cemetery in Seminole, OK.
Our precious Lord opened the gates to heaven for Gladys Blackwood Alexander on Sunday, February 26 with her family at her side. She was 95 years old. Gladys was born to Claude Blackwood and Ida McKinnon on January 7, 1922, in Seminole, Oklahoma. After her mother passed away when she was only 9 years old, Gladys lived with several relatives until landing with an aunt in the Bowlegs School district. Gladys graduated in 1940 with some of her lifelong friends. She loved to tell the story of being baptized four times in four different religions as a result of living with so many different families. After high school, Gladys worked for WKY Radio in the Skirvin Tower (being selected as one of the WKY Radio War Beauties) and made trips to Texas to visit with enlisted soldiers. In 1944, Gladys met the man who cherished her for 52 years- Claude “Doc” Alexander. He had just returned to Seminole, Oklahoma after serving in the Aleutian Islands during World War II. On their second date, Doc asked Gladys to marry him and after three weeks, she accepted. Gladys and her two sisters joined the Marine Corps in San Francisco. Just before they were to receive the “Key to the City” for three sisters joining together, the war was over and she received an Honorable Discharge on September 12, 1945. In October 1946, they became the proud parents of Steven Alexander and eleven months later, Terry Lyn Alexander arrived in early October. Three years later, they became parents again to Randy Alexander in December of 1950. Doc’s work in the oil business moved the family from Oklahoma to Kansas to Louisiana to California to Texas and finally back home to Oklahoma. The first Sunday after each move, she loaded up the kids and headed to church to enroll in church and Sunday school. She enjoyed her church activities with her children and making new friends. She joined the PTA organizations at each school and was Homeroom Mother for each of them. One summer in Houston, Doc (coach), Steven, Terry, and Randy all played in baseball leagues. Between working as a bookkeeper at the Houston Country Club, preparing meals, doing uniform laundry, she saw 24 baseball games during tournament play – all in one week. She is a member of Camille Avenue Baptist Church and was secretary of her Joy Sunday School Class. Her favorite part of church service was the “meet and greet”. Her ministry was mailing cards for every occasion to church members/visitors, friends, and family. She was known as the “card lady”. Son Randy said she kept Hallmark in business. Gladys retired as secretary/receptionist from Locke Supply in the early 80’s. She served as Vice President and President of the Bowlegs Alumni Association (a group she considered family). She loved the yearly Bowlegs reunions and seeing her “school family”. She was a member of the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary and helping with the Angel Tree Project. She volunteered at the Veterans Hospital to help bring a smile to everyone she visited. Her friendships were many and lasting. She was filled with strength, compassion, and kindness. She gave everything she had in love to her family and friends. She loved the “Sooners” and the “Cubs”. She attended an All-Star game at Wrigley Field with family in 1990 and was elated when the Cubs won the World Series. She loved shopping, decorating for Christmas, collecting angels and Santas, - but most of all the friends she collected and treasured along the way. Waiting for her in heaven will be her loving husband of 52 years, “Doc” Alexander; son, Steven Alexander; her parents; two brothers, Milo and Hank; and her two sisters, Joan Walden and Norma Jean Caldwell. Stormy is waiting to see her at the Rainbow Bridge. Missing her here on earth will her fur baby “Boomer”, Terry Alexander, Randy and Gaila Alexander, Vicky and Rev. Guy Langston of Tulsa, grandson Sean and Ilaria Alexander, grandson Zane and Hannah Alexander, granddaughter Valerie and Eric Bretillo. She loved her great grandchildren – Eva, Luca, Layla, Isabella, and Julianna. She loved her sister-in-law Dorothy Blackwood who made her laugh along with her son Frank as well as nieces and nephews – Dedra, Janet, JoCarroll, John David, Rhondelle, and Johnny. We will miss the Matriarch of our family but cherish memories until we see her again in heaven.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gladys Adiel Alexander (Blackwood), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
Cherishing Life Sharing Forever
This Book of Memories brings those affected by loss together by encouraging communication and self-expression. By giving friends and family a special place to tell their stories and express their feelings of loss, it helps them care for one another during a very difficult time. Click on any of the links to the right to access features or information within this memorial website.
Memorial Tribute Website Proudly Provided by:
Vondel Smith Mortuary
6934 South Western Avenue PO Box 891320
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Phone: 405-634-1439
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