Gladys C. Grossman

Gladys C. Grossman, 89, of Rock Island, died Saturday, October 30, 2011, at Hope Creek Care Center in East Moline, IL.
Cremation rites have been accorded as per her wishes. Memorial services will be Monday, November 21st, at 11:00 a.m., at the First Lutheran Church, 1600 20th Street in Rock Island. The family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m. prior to the service. Private burial will be in the National Cemetery on Arsenal Island, Rock Island, IL.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ray and Gladys Grossman Scholarship at Augustana College, in care of Office of Advancement, 639 38th Street, Rock Island, IL 61201.
Gladys Claudine Huddleston was born on November 23, 1921 to Maynard B. and Edna L. (Dickinson) Huddleston in Moline, IL. She attended Moline High School. As a young adult, Gladys was a popular contralto soloist, appearing on some radio programs and with several orchestras in the Illinois-Iowa area. On August 10th, 1940, in Davenport, IA, she married Leslie C. Swanson, and later married Raymond A. Grossman on April 10th, 1959 in Rock Island.
Gladys and her first husband owned and operated Swanson's Studio in Rock Island. She was a wedding photographer in the 1950's. During her second marriage, she and Ray began an equestrian stable in Milan, IL to teach jumping. She later became a Realtor in Miami, Florida.
Gladys was a member of First Lutheran Church in Rock Island. She was an accomplished equestrian and she enjoyed many pets, especially dogs and horses. Throughout her life, "Glady" was a wonderful and caring daughter, sister, mother, wife, aunt, grandmother and friend to many. She will be greatly missed.
Survivors include: two daughters: Vicki C. (Lee) Wassenhove of Milan, and Wendy L. Jeffries of Hemet, CA; a step-daughter: Lucie (Grossman) Marinov, Apple Valley, CA; two step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren, also from Apple Valley; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by an infant son, a half-brother, William C. Kester, a half-sister, Lois (Kester) VanOteghem, and a cousin, Lucille (Dickinson) Anderson, who was like a sister.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Avonlea Cottage in Milan and Hope Creek for the loving care given to their mother in the last few years.