Gloria Post

Gloria Post, age 90, and a life-long resident of Wayne, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, just five days after the passing of her beloved husband Robert P. “Roy” Post.

Born in Wayne, Gloria was the second child blessed to her parents Robert and Margaret (Haring) Gilmour. She grew up and lived in the exact same house her entire life. In her youngest years, she was a student in the Wayne Public Schools including the former Preakness School on Hamburg Turnpike and the former Anthony Wayne School on Valley Road. During those years, Wayne was still just an up-and-coming little farm town with no high school of its own, so Gloria attended Pompton Lakes High School where she graduated with the Class of 1952. She and her older sister Doris enjoyed a true country style childhood. In those days, their mom would send them for a walk up the street to visit the Reinhardts who had a cow that supplied them with the freshest possible milk.

After high school, Gloria entered the workforce. She started with Haband, a men’s and women’s casual and dress fashions provider in Paterson, NJ. After almost ten years with Haband, she took an administrative position with Kearfott/Singer Kearfott, a guidance and navigation systems manufacturer in Wayne. She remained with Singer Kearfott for the rest of her career until retiring fully in 1996 at age 65.

Gloria was the beloved wife of Robert “Roy” Post. They met at a dance in the firehouse in Totowa and took an immediate liking to each other. When Roy asked Gloria out for a formal date, she eagerly said yes and off to the movies they went. When asked what movie they saw, Gloria could not recall. Hmmmmmmm! One can only surmise that the mutual company was much more interesting than the movie. Suffice it to say, Gloria and Roy fell in love and some months after Roy’s proposal of marriage at Gloria’s parent’s house, the two lovebirds tied the marital knot on Saturday, August 1, 1959 at the Methodist Church in the Mountain View section of Wayne. After honeymooning down the Jersey shore, the couple settled in Gloria’s childhood home as husband and wife in Wayne and remained residents in the township for the rest of their lives.

Because of her husband Roy’s love of horses, Gloria and Roy eventually built a small stable on their property where they hosted Partner, their Morgan horse. The named their property Longhorn Ranch and Roy competed with Partner in local rodeos while in-between Gloria enjoyed riding Partner and helping out with his care.

One of Gloria’s most relaxing and satisfying activities outside of work was painting. It was often said, “You give Gloria a photo and she could paint it on just about anything.” The saying was true and Gloria’s artwork could be found on all sorts of mediums. She was known to paint on saw blades, milk cans, kerosene stoves, leather belts and purses, stone statues and, of course, on canvas. She was so good, she could have turned it into a little side business but that would have reduced her hobby to a job and where would be the fun in that?

Gloria and Roy also loved to get away on trips together all over New Jersey including down the shore as well as in New York State and Pennsylvania. For a long time, the trips were made with their camping trailer pulled behind Roy’s pickup truck. They ultimately discovered a campground called Sun Retreats at Pleasant Acres Farm located near High Point State Park and Kittatinny Ridge in Sussex, NJ. Soon after, they sold the little trailer and camped exclusively at Pleasant Acres in a seasonal RV. Sometimes family and friends would visit their campsite for the day where they’d all relax and often take in a game of Bingo.

Many of Gloria’s pursuits included family and friends. She and her older sister Doris were like two peas in a pod. They shared many similar interests. They and their husbands and other couples took a real liking to getting together for a weekend night of dance. They particularly liked to follow a band called Kix so, wherever Kix was playing, they would go. One of the bands usual venues was The Rusty Nail Lounge in Parsippany. They also frequented the casinos of Atlantic City with friends but they never took the bus. Gloria cherished her family and enjoyed getting together for the big holidays and sharing the hosting. She also spoke frequently on the phone with her niece Debra Stockland and they enjoyed a very close bond.

Gloria was soft-spoken but, when necessary, she could turn on the assertiveness. Overall everyone enjoyed and appreciated her pleasant and friendly disposition. She easily made friends and she and Roy had personalities that complimented each other perfectly.

Gloria was the beloved wife of Roy Post who passed away just five days before her on Thursday, January 6, 2022. The enjoyed a 62+ year marriage that, they would both agree, was made in heaven. Gloria was the dear younger sister Doris Porta who predeceased her in 2017; the dear sister-in-law of Eugene Porta who predeceased her in 1982; the adored aunt of Debra and husband Roy Stockland of Port Richey, FL, the late Robert Porta who predeceased her in 1981, and Carol Beuselinck of Pompton Lakes. She is also survived by numerous great nieces and great nephews, great-great nieces and great-great nephews, and even one great-great-great nephew.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Gloria and Roy’s name are asked to consider St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorials Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959. To donate online, visit stjude.org.