Gloria P. Lingle

Gloria Patricia Lingle of Statesboro, Georgia, passed away peacefully on October 10, 2022, joining her husband in heaven. She was 88 years old.

Gloria was born to Elsie Shepherd and Harold Babcock on November 25, 1933, in Washington, DC, and was the youngest of four children. After attending Washington Bible College, she married her high school sweetheart, Robert Lingle, on July 17, 1953. Together they raised 6 children, eventually adding 22 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.

A devoted Christian and pastor's wife, Gloria served alongside her husband in Southern Baptist churches in Florida, South Carolina, Massachusetts, and Virginia, and accompanied him on mission trips to Scotland and Africa. Over the years, she worked as an administrative assistant at the Pentagon and with the New England Baptist Association. She was also very happily involved in a sign language ministry as well as volunteer work with the Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief and a pregnancy crisis center in Eatonton, Georgia.

Gloria was known for her beautiful smile and incomparable dimples. She was as genuine as they come, with a quick wit and fun sense of humor. She loved to laugh.

Being a mother was the highlight of Gloria's life and she adored her children and grandchildren. Her sweet and loving spirit touched too many lives to count and was a blessing to her family and friends. She will be sorely missed.

Gloria is predeceased by her husband, Robert Lingle, Sr. She is survived by a brother, Harold Babcock (wife Jean), and her six children, Bob, (Amy), Steve (Laurel), Karen (Guy), Rick (Carol), David (Luanne), and Christine (Andy), as well as her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Gloria's family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to the staff at the Southern Manor Senior Living facility for the wonderful and attentive care they provided her over the past three years.

We will be celebrating Gloria's life on Friday, October 14, 2022, at Deals Funeral Home, 22757 Hwy 80 East, Statesboro, Georgia. Visitation begins at noon, followed by the celebration service at 1 pm. The service will be live-streamed on the Deals Funeral Home Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Samaritan's Purse (samaritanspurse.org) to assist with relief efforts related to Hurricane Ian.