Gloria Sargent, lived a life of service

Gloria Sargent passed away Thursday, May 30, 2024, in Lewes. She was born in Novemeber 1928, in Washington, D.C. Gloria lived a life of service. Starting with serving her nation as a member of the OSS during World War II, she met her husband, Jack Sargent, in the elevator of the Pentagon - it was love at first sight. 

Their son, Chase was born at Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Fla., while Gloria did all the work and Jack waited in the Officer’s Club, passing out cigars. Gloria always took great exception to that. 

She, Jack, and their son, Chase, lived a life of adventure traveling the Far East, the Mediterranean and Europe, anywhere that the military assigned her husband. 

She settled in Virginia Beach, Va., with her husband and son, where she became an active member of the Sandbridge, Va., Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, advancing to the level of captain - a leader before women were acknowledged as leaders in the noble profession of the fire service. We all believe she ran the squad with a whip in one hand and a chair in the other. 

Gloria, never one to mince words, wanted it known that “To live to 95 sucks,” as she so succinctly put it, quite often. Gloria, always competitive, won more pairs of socks at bingo than any one person could possibly ever use. 

She is predeceased by her husband, John “Jack” Sargent, LCDR U.S. Navy (Ret.); and son David, 10th SFG, Vietnam. 

Internment will be private.

We will miss her razor-sharp wit, her smile, and her perfect sense of irony and timing. 

Many thanks to Sussex and Kent EMS, and the wonderful staff at Beebe Emergency Room and Beebe Healthcare. Many thanks to the staff at Milford Place in Milford for their wonderful care.

Gloria is survived by her son, Chase Sargent and daughter-in-law, Margaret Reyes of Ocean View; and step-granddaughter, Quela.