Gloria Marie Lapontney Obituary
Gloria LaPontney, age 92 of Warren, Michigan passed away on February 8, 2021. Gloria was born on December 5, 1928 in Flint, Michigan to her loving parents Caroline and Walter Griesing. Gloria was a well-loved and respected teacher. She began her pursuit of education after graduating from Flint Central High School in 1946. She received the University of Michigan's Regents Alumni Scholarship and attended U of M earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Education in 1950 and her Master's degree in 1951.
While at U of M, Gloria spent a summer participating in the Brotherhood Workshop in Mexico at the Mexico City College. In addition, while at U of M, Gloria was presented the Pi Lambda Theta Key as the outstanding student teacher in secondary education. Gloria also received the Shell Oil Merit award to attend Cornell University and participated in the University of Montana summer workshop program on a United States Department of Education grant.
Gloria began her career teaching high school mathematics in the Detroit Public School system. When she was raising her young family, Gloria left full time teaching and served as a substitute teacher in the Warren/Sterling Heights area. She returned to full time teaching with Detroit Public Schools and retired from DPS in 1987.
Gloria was an active member in the U of M Alumnae Club, Warren Vivaci, and the Detroit Rose Society. Gloria was an avid Bingo player and loved SUDUKU puzzles, keeping her mind active and young. In 1961 Gloria married Lawrence LaPontney and together they had two daughters, Laura and Ellen. She is survived by her daughters, Laura (Paul) Fuhr and Ellen LaPontney; grandchildren Sarah (Matthew) Rittweger, Eric, Jonathan, William, and Elizabeth Fuhr, and April (Justin) Scheibner; great-grandchildren Benjamin Rittweger, and Tyler, Emilee, and Eli Scheibner.
Gloria is also survived by her loving sister Carolyn (Bernard) Barrowcliff and many nieces and nephews. She will also be missed by her Fur Babies. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Lawrence; parents Caroline and Walter; brother Walter Griesing Jr.; and nephew Walter Griesing III. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 11, from 2:00PM until 9:00PM, at A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 32000 Schoenherr Road at Masonic in Warren.
Funeral Service will be held the next day, February 12, at 12:00PM in the Chapel at White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery, 621 Long Lake Road, Troy. In lieu of flowers the family appreciates, any donations made to the Salvation Army or Michigan Humane Society.
