Quilter Retires
Gloria DeWitt of Trinity Lutheran, Chariton, is retiring from quilt-making for Lutheran World Relief (LWR) after 23 years of planning, cutting, pinning, sewing, unstitching, tying and trying again.
Gloria has lived most of her life in Marion and Lucas counties, mainly in the Russell and Chariton areas. She worked briefly at Maytag in Newton, and later worked about five years each at two different sewing factories in Knoxville and Chariton, besides other various occupations throughout the years.
She was also a farmer's wife to husband Leonard Moore, to whom she was married for 30 years. He died in 1982.
She has been married to another farmer, Floyd DeWitt for 24 years. They are now retired and live in Chariton.
Gloria has six children, nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, in addition to one daughter-in-law, one son-in-law, two step-grandsons, one step-granddaughter and five step-great grandchildren.
In the 20 plus years for LWR, she has made over 400 quilts. Within the last six years she was pretty much the sole quilt-maker at Trinity, with occasional help from other Trinity members.
In addition to the quilts, she has made quilts for each member of her family and also does wall hangings, doll clothes, table runners, cloth dolls and baby quilts.
"I have loved to sew for many years. It has been a good thing for me to keep busy."
In addition to her quilt-making, Gloria has been known for her willingness to take part in most activities at Trinity through the years, including Vacation Bible School, LWML, cooking (great pies) and cleaning the church.
