TENANTS HARBOR — Gloria M. Coolbroth, 81, died Sept. 24, 2013, surrounded by her family at Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport. For the past few years, Gloria was a resident at the Knox Center in Rockland.

Born in Rockland March 20, 1932, she was the daughter Edward F. and Frances Harriman Curtis. She moved to Tenants Harbor as an infant and returned to Rockland at the age of 12. She attended local schools.

On April 3, 1948, Gloria married Lawrence H. Wilson. The couple moved to Whitinsville, Mass., where they resided one year and returned to Rockland. Mr. Wilson died Aug. 25, 1955.

On Dec. 7, 1955, she married Joseph O. Coolbroth in Rockland. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Tenants Harbor, where they have since resided. Gloria devoted her life to her family as a homemaker, mother and grandmother. 

She was a member of the Tenants Harbor Baptist Church.

Other than her parents and first husband, Gloria was predeceased by a son, Lawrence H. Wilson Jr., in 1997; a daughter, Heather Coolbroth Bowring, in 1990; a brother, Sgt. Donald E. Curtis; and a granddaughter, Shiloh Marie Meklin, in May 2013.  

She is survived by her loving husband, Joseph Sr., and one son, Joseph O. Coolbroth Jr., both of Rockland; seven daughters, Josephine Coolbroth-Cushman and her husband, John, of Searsmont, Cynthia Poblette and her husband, Salvadore, of Rockland, Mary Howard and her husband, David, of Rockland, Janice Wilson of Thomaston, Joyce Wilson of Tenants Harbor, Charlene Joy and her husband, Terry, of Rockland, and Jennie L. Coolbroth of South Portland; three sisters and their husbands, Patricia and Francis Weaver of Florida, Priscilla and Wendell Havener of Rockland and Rosalie and Charles Fogg of West Rockport; many grandchildren, many great-grandchildren and great great-grandchildren, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Friends and relatives are invited to visit Monday, Sept. 30, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St. in Rockland, where a funeral service will be held Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 1 p.m. The Rev. Bill Hickey will officiate.  Burial will be at a later date in Seaside Cemetery in Tenants Harbor.

Those who wish may make memorial donations to the Hospice House Foundation, Pen Bay Healthcare Foundation, 22 White St., Rockland, ME 04841.

To share a memory or condolence with the family, please visit Gloria’s Book of Memories online at the funeral home.