Gloria Bell (Oberndorfer) Lewandowski

We mourn the loss of Gloria Bell (Oberndorfer) Lewandowski, 89, who died Thursday, October 17, 2024 in Salina, Kansas. Gloria was born in Sylvan Grove, Kansas on January 5, 1935 to Esther S. and Walter R. Oberndorfer. She graduated from Sylvan Grove High School in 1953 and attended St. John’s Lutheran College in Winfield, Kansas. While working in Salina, Kansas in the mid-1950s, Gloria met her future husband, John Lewandowski, a young U.S. Air Force Airman; they were married in 1956. During the next two decades, she and her husband would live and travel around the U.S. and to Okinawa while raising their two children Rick and Kimberly, until finally settling again in Salina, Kansas in 1974.

Gloria is survived by John Lewandowski her husband of 68 years, her son Rick Lewandowski (wife Veronica) of West Grove, PA, and her daughter Kimberly (Lewandowski) McBride of Salina, KS. She leaves behind her cherished grandchildren Michael Lewandowski (partner Megan Francis) of Lake Wales, FL and Erin (Lewandowski) Kochka (husband Kevin) of West Grove, PA. Gloria also leaves behind her two feisty great-grandchildren Harper and Emersyn Kochka of West Grove, PA. She is also survived by her sister Marilyn (Oberndorfer) Griffin of Overland Park, KS and nephew Bryan Griffin (wife Sara) of Overland Park, KS as well as nieces Allison (Griffin) Blunt (husband Topher), Ashlyn Griffin, and Abbey Griffin. In addition, she was blessed to have nieces Karen Gajdorus, Lynn Zentner, Kris Krajnovich, and their families.

Gloria was preceded in death by her parents Walter R. and Esther S. Oberndorfer, brother-in-law Warren C. Griffin, nephew Jeffrey A. Griffin, son-in-law Larry F. McBride, and grandson Benjamin Joseph Lewandowski.

Gloria was a devoted wife, mother, homemaker, and lifelong companion to John as well as her entire family. She was a talented crafter, loved to sew, enjoyed reading, was a wonderful baker, and enjoyed travelling with her husband John to his many annual U.S. Air Force reunions throughout the U.S. With her death, Gloria’s absence is profoundly felt by all who loved her so very much. Even so, in our grief we are comforted to know that she is now finally at rest.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Salina, Kansas on Saturday, October 26, 2024, followed by a private family burial in Sylvan Grove, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Trinity Lutheran Church, 702 9th Street, Salina, KS 67401.

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