Gloria Zwang Cobb

Gloria Zwang Cobb was born in Dallas, Texas on April 4, 1942 and died on June 21, 2020 at 78 years old due to complications with her liver. She died in her home in Littleton, Colorado. 

Gloria was born to Abe and Lucy Zwang and was raised with her younger sister, Jerrie Johnson in Amarillo, Texas. Her father, Abe, was a very skilled tailor who specialized in making fur coats at luxurious department stores in Texas. As a child, Gloria loved to dance and play the piano.  She graduated from Tascosa High School in Amarillo, Texas in 1960. After high school, Gloria attended Texas Tech and ultimately graduated from West Texas State with a degree in elementary education in 1964.

Gloria met her husband-to-be, Jimmy Cobb, in the fourth grade; their mothers were good friends.  After college they reunited, and in 1963, they went on their first date and three months later, married on November 23, 1963. After graduating from college, Jimmy and Gloria, moved to Denver, Colorado, where Jimmy had attended college at the University of Denver on a football scholarship and held his first job as a salesperson at the Quaker Oats Company.

After five years of marriage, Gloria and Jimmy were thrilled about the birth of their first child, Cathey in 1968. Four years later, they gave birth to another daughter, Carol. Nothing was more important to Gloria than being a devoted wife and mother. She raised her children in Littleton, Colorado. While Cathey and Carol were young, she was able to stay home with her daughters while picking up substitute teaching jobs now and then. Jimmy was traveling so much for work at that time, they felt it was vital to stay home and raise their family. 

She began her lifelong-teaching career in 1963. She was a devoted Sunday school teacher, a gifted and talented teacher, and taught multiple grades in elementary at Littleton Public Schools.  She spent the majority of her teaching career at Franklin Elementary in Littleton, Colorado, where she also coached Odyssey of the Mind teams for many years.  With over 30 years of service, she finally retired in 2005 as a beloved teacher.  Gloria had blessed thousands of lives. Her true gift was the ability to love, accept, and build up everyone around her.

Gloria was always a giver of her time and talents. She was a devout Christian and volunteered to teach Sunday school and vacation bible school throughout her entire life.  She was an active member of Cornerstone and Arapahoe Road Baptist Churches. She truly embodied the qualities of what it meant to be a woman of God. 

After retirement, Gloria became a grandmother to her only grandchild, Gavin, in 2005. She loved spending every minute with him that she could and helped to care for him while his mom and dad were working.  Gavin dearly loved his “Grammy.”  Along with spending time with her many circles of friends, playing bridge was among one of her favorite hobbies.

Gloria has been described by friends and family as devoted, loving, genuine and kind. She lit up a room with her infectious smile and was rarely seen without people surrounding her.  Gloria’s gift to all was how she listened, made you feel important, and unconditionally loved. Her way of making you instantly feel like family was heartwarming.

Jimmy, Gloria’s husband of 54 years, passed away in October of 2017. She spent her last couple years spending quality time with family, and forming a special friendship with Carl Henson, a long-time family friend who had also lost his wife. Gloria had been suffering from liver disease for over 12 years, but in November of 2019, Gloria’s doctors noticed the disease had progressed and removed a small tumor from her liver. Even though she maintained a strong mental spirit, her liver eventually gave out. She remained in her home where she was able to say goodbye to her close friends and family, and finally, peacefully passed away in the loving presence of her daughters, Cathey and Carol.  

Gloria is survived by her sister, Jerrie Johnson, who lives in Dallas, Texas; her oldest daughter, Cathey Massey and her husband Paul Massey; her youngest daughter, Carol Cobb; her grandson, Gavin Goble; Gavin’s father, Greg Goble; Gavin’s step-father, Stuart Born, and his children Ella and Zander. Other members of Gloria’s family who have survived her include Jimmy’s brother Gary Cobb’s family.  

A memorial service will be held at Arapahoe Road Baptist Church with social distancing measures in place. Due to COVID-19, a live video stream will be made available.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: American Liver Foundation (https://liverfoundation.org/), Arapahoe Baptist Church (https://www.shelbygiving.com/app/giving/arbc) or a charity of your choice in memory of Gloria.

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