Bock, Gladys Ruth Garnier

Gladys Ruth Garnier Bock, of The Meth-Wick Community (Woodlands), Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at First Congregational Church, Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include three sons, William (Cyndi) of Austin, Texas, Bruce (Jenny Wolffe) of Iowa City, and Brian (Vivian Páez) of Medellin, Colombia, South America; a special niece, Marcia Whiteford (Ron Thompson) of Cedar Rapids; two grandsons, Jesse (Eleanor Smith) of North Buena Vista, and Christopher (Melanie Ayres) of St. Paul, Minn.; and one granddaughter, Jessica Rene Bock-Paez of Medellin, Colombia. A sister-in-law, Neva Garnier of Pennsylvania, also survives.

Gladys was born Dec. 28, 1915, in rural Maynard, Iowa, the daughter of Walter Charles and Grace Hall Garnier. She spent her childhood on the family farm. She graduated from Maynard High School and Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa. She was an elementary teacher in Colwell, Lamont, Anamosa and Ames, Iowa. While teaching in Anamosa, she met Carl V. Bock who became her husband in May 1942, and they shared 57 years of marriage. Together they enjoyed supporting their children's many activities, membership in two dance clubs (Merimyx and Congenial 100), boating on the Mississippi River, volunteering at the Indian Creek Nature Center and 50 plus years membership at First Congregational Church and the Cedar Rapids Country Club.

Gladys was a member and past president of P.E.O. Chapter IF, a member of The Tuesday Study Club, a deacon and Sunday school teacher for many years at First Congregational, a Cub Scout leader, past PTA president, a member of the Audubon Society, and was a member and past president of the Indian Creek Nature Center Guild, and is a Member Emeritus of the Nature Center. In 2008, she was recognized and received the Founders Award from the Indian Creek Nature Center.

Gladys was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and her brothers, Arnold and Ivan Garnier.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Congregational Church or the Gladys Bock Children's Fund for the Indian Creek Nature Center c/o The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation.

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