Gladys Galloway

Gladys Galloway, age 89, passed away surrounded by her family at home, Saturday June 2, 2007 following a brief illness. She was born May 25, 1918 in Crane, MO, the daughter of the late Thomas Lloyd & Mae (Rickman) Kincaid. Gladys came to Caro with her parents as a young girl, graduating from Caro High School with the class of 1936. Gladys then attended Tuscola County Normal, became certified and began to teach in county schools while working part time at Hoopers Drug Store in Caro. Mr. Hooper decided he needed help at the drug store and hired a new pharmacist, Wm Harold Galloway. Gladys and Harold decided to get married in 1939. At that time, married women were not allowed to teach in the county normal system, so Gladys had to give up her job at the Tappen County School in Vassar. Gladys had always loved art and had an opportunity to learn china painting when her children were younger and Harold was working long hours at the drug store. She started teaching her friends around the kitchen table in 1950, arranging class time so she was available for family activities, being there when the children came home from school or Harold needed her help at the drug store. Classes grew and Gladys was busy being a wife, mother, teacher and artist. Her teaching method used step-by-step directions. In 1965 Gladys published her first book, a basic textbook that was much needed. Today it is in its 16th printing and still selling. In 1970, Gladys published her first series of 8 studies and took them to a china painting convention in Pennsylvania. The series was a great success. Gladys had a wonderful seven years of traveling with Harold, in his glory selling studies, mailing them and setting up her business as only he knew how. In 1960, Gladys attended the first teachers national organization in Dallas, T.X. Twenty years later Gladys would be elected president of IPAT (International Porcelain Art Teachers) with members in 38 countries. When Gladys was nominated for the presidency of IPAT, Harold was fighting a losing battle with colon cancer. He insisted that she accept the position. Harold died in February of 1978. Gladys was installed in July of 1978. Her travels for the following years took her to every state in the United States, visiting all the continents except Antarctica. In Gladys travels, teaching, lectures, workshops, seminars and conferences she has been awarded citations, certificates, plaques, honors from countries and dignitaries and much more. None have been more meaningful or touching than those bestowed on her by her community of Caro. Gladys was the 1978 Citizen of the Year; 1986 the Distinguished Alumni of Caro High School; the Caro Garden Club honored her with a life membership for their club and the Michigan Federation of Garden Clubs and an honorary member of the Wixson Club of Caro. Gladys was a lifelong member of the Caro United Methodist Church. Gladys is survived by one son, Wm. Thomas Galloway of Tucson, AZ; one sister & her husband, Margaret “Peg” & Bob Korte of Frankenmuth; eleven nieces and nephews, Mike, Jim, Karen, Sherri, Scott, Brian, Gloria, Cindy, Rodney, Linda and many dear friends around the world. In addition to her husband, Gladys was preceded in death by her daughter, Bonnie Jean Galloway on April 27, 2007; her sister, Virginia Goff in 1977 and a brother, Ray William Kincaid in 1999.