Gladys Clara Kraft

Posted

Gladys Clara (née Blair), 92, of Banning, Calif., died peacefully at the hospital from complication of a stroke with family by her side. Born in Wadena, Minn., the daughter of Giles and Clara (née Hunky) Blair.

She joined the Air Force in 1951, in 1955 she met her future husband in Garmisch, Germany, Arthur Kraft, who was there with the Army in Military Intelligence. They married Christmas evening that year in Gladys’ hometown of Wadena, Minn.

Gladys worked at her in-law’s dairy in Banning, the Sun Up Dairy as an accountant until 1961. She then worked for the Deutsch Company as a programmer (punch cards). She then went on to work for the Security Pacific Bank. When Art lost his job with the Fire Dept., they moved to the Bishop area where Art went to work with the State as Fire Marshal.

She enjoyed the leisure life of tennis, golf, and hiking with her friends. When their house between Bishop and Mammoth burned down. With the insurance, they bought a business, Wolf Creek Liquor, in South Fork, Colo. They sold the store in 2002 to enjoy retirement back in Banning.

Gladys was preceded in death by her husband Arthur, parents, Giles and Clara Blair, brothers Giles Jr., Herbert, Erwin, William and Gordon, sisters Jean and Elizabeth.

She is survived by her son Jack of Banning and granddaughter, Minna of Stockton, Calif., and numerous nieces and nephews.

Gladys will be interred at the National Cemetery in Riverside, Calif., beside her husband Art. Services and interment will be at the National Cemetery in Riverside, Calif.