Gloria Evelyn Fox Christopher December 11, 1921 ~ October 5, 2010 Walnut Creek Resident Since 1997 About 1918 the Charles Fox family moved from London, England to Mexico. Charles, an engineer and WWI veteran in artillery, defended London from air attack, and Enelda, was a PhD in psychology. They came to Mexico where Charles would be the managing engineer for the family's coffee plantation in Chiapas. Enelda would become a leader for women's education and development and child care, and the first head of the government's department for women's rights and child welfare. On December 11, 1921, in Mexico City, Enelda delivered into the world a baby who would become Gloria Evelyn Fox Christopher, a mother, a sports woman, an artist, and a beautiful lady. Gloria's early years on the coffee plantation, San Juan, shaped her life with a love for the lush, tropical vegetation, the colors, the forest, the mountains, the rivers. At age six her parents sent her to boarding school in England, escorting her there by ship each year. Her high school years were in Mexico, where she studied at the American School and then Preparatoria. During her teenage years she worked for a time in Mexican movies where she was noted for her beauty and her dancing. Then, at Purdue University, she earned a degree in nutrition, but liked especially her course work in design. While growing up, Gloria's home oriented toward art and science. Before photography, her mother drew the images seen by microscope; she painted creative works in several media. Her father and her sisters painted. Gloria painted, and began winning prizes as a teenager. In high school sports she was a champion swimmer; in her adult life she played competitive tennis into her 70s While at Purdue she by chance met Bill and after three dates, they married in Mexico City on August 27, 1943. Gloria's sport was tennis. Her devotion was art. While Bill was overseas, she lived and painted in Guatemala with her aunt Carmen, a famous painter. In her adult life with Bill in Massachusetts and Connecticut, Gloria exhibited her art in juried shows, winning more than fifty awards. Vivien Raynor, the New York Times art critic described her work as "outstanding," and selected one of her oil pastels for top prize. In California, one of her Works was selected for the Art for a Lifetime exhibit at the Bedford Gallery. Gloria did not paint landscapes. She painted how the landscapes feel; the energy, the color, the shapes. Her art brings us the atmosphere of Chiapas, painted by the skilled hand of a loving artist. Over her adult years she raised three children; John Christopher of Walpole, New Hampshire, Kent Christopher who resided in Rexburg, Idaho and June Kirske of Walnut Creek. Gloria's children brought her 7 amazing grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Gloria and Bill's children grew to adult professionals, each brightening and making better their part of the world. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to further support the arts: Friends of Civic Arts Education Foundation, Gloria Christopher Scholarship Fund, 1666 North Main Street, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (925) 943-5899 x 2405. Gloria Evelyn Fox Christopher died October 5, 2010 in the comfort of her home in The Kensington with Bill her husband of 67 years by her side.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Gloria Evelyn Christopher, please visit our floral store.
