Gloria Simmons Knipe, 89, went home to be with the Lord surrounded by her loving family on Aug. 29.
Gloria was born on Feb. 14, 1925 in Friendship, to Stacy and Mildred (Burns) Simmons, the youngest of six girls and one boy. Gloria grew up in Newcastle and graduated from Lincoln Academy in 1942 where she was the head majorette. She married George Knipe on Sept. 12, 1942.
She worked at Sylvania in Waldoboro and later ran a beauty shop “The Powder Puff” out of her home in New Harbor until the age of 72. She was a member of the Bristol Footlighters, Big Buck Club, a lifetime member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, and a girls basketball coach at Bristol High School and took the team to the league championships. Her family will always remember her homemade pies and donuts.
Gloria was predeceased by her husband, George Knipe in 1993.
She is survived by her children, Sharon McDunnah of Bristol, Connie Fraser and husband Stan of New Harbor, and Greg Knipe and wife Evelyn of New Harbor; grandchildren, Tori Witham Lebel, Stacey Cole, Stephanie Cabrell, Matthew Fraser, Jennifer Sbriglio, Jessica Carter, and Liza Knipe; 17 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.
A celebration of Gloria’s life will be held at a graveside service at the New Harbor Cemetery at 1 p.m., Sun., Sept. 7.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Miles Home Health and Hospice, 40 Belvedere Rd., Damariscotta, ME 04543 or Bristol First Responders, 104 South Side Rd., New Harbor, ME 04554.
