Gloria Gladys Miles

Gloria Gladys Miles, 83, passed away peacefully Thursday, September 17, 2015, after a valiant battle with cancer. Gloria was born November 30, 1931, in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was preceded in death by her mother, Ruth Derbyshire Miles and her father, Joy Christian Miles. Gloria is survived by her sister, Jean Miles Merrick-Smith and brother-in-law, Clifton Smith from Indianapolis; her longtime friend, Sharon Sanderson of Athens; many cousins and countless friends scattered around the country; and her beloved Yorkie, Winston. Gloria received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from Hanover College in Madison, Indiana in 1953 where she was inducted as a charter member of the Alpha Omicron Pi Chapter in 1950. She went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in Physical Education from Colorado State in 1958, a Director of Physical Education degree from Indiana University in 1970, and her Ph.D. in Physical Education from Florida State University in 1973. During those years she taught physical education to K-12 grades in those various locations until she came to Athens where she spent twenty years at The University of Georgia teaching upcoming physical education teachers the rigors and skills of elementary physical education. She retired in 1992 as Associate Professor Emeritus of Health and Human Performance. Gloria was also a lover of animals. She owned a hobby farm of goats, was involved with the "Save-the-Tarpan-Horse" adoption program, and offered her farm as a teaching lab for The University of Georgia and Athens Technical College to students in Veterinary medicine. A memorial service will be held at Lord and Stephens East on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. Rev. Tom Miles, Pastor of Crooked Creek Baptist Church, will lead the service. Gloria's ashes will be interred at Sarasota Memorial Gardens, Sarasota, Florida. If you wish to honor Gloria with a charitable gift in lieu of flowers, her favorite charities are Hanover College, Madison, Indiana, and Best Friends Animal Society (rescue for homeless and aging animals) in Kanab, Utah.