Gloria Frazer Valdespino

July 11, 1927 - May 29, 2023

Gloria Frazer Valdespino, an extraordinary educator and life-long learner, died on May 29. A devoted wife and dedicated mother, she was with her family at home after surgery. She was 95 years old.

Born in San Antonio on July 11, 1927, Gloria was the eldest daughter in a family of six siblings. Her mother, Maria Cervantes, nurtured in her a wonder for the beauty of nature, art and music. From her Scottish-Irish father, Charles Frazer, Gloria inherited an independent spirit, a strong will and a smidgen of mischief. She often described herself as an active tomboy who followed her brothers on their adventures when she wasn’t looking after her younger sisters.

Gloria played piano and table tennis, loved swing dancing and performed in self-written plays with her brothers and sisters. School was her joy. She attended Fox Tech High where she took typing and shorthand, excelled at academic coursework and participated in many extracurricular activities. She supported the war effort wherever she could, including hosting at the USO. A volunteer to her country, church and community, Gloria was a proud red, white and blue American who flew the flag in her front yard and believed voting was a privilege.

Gloria attended Our Lady of the Lake College. But life changed dramatically before she could graduate: Joe Valdespino, her brother Charles’ closest childhood friend, came to offer condolences to her family after he returned from serving as a ball turret gunner in World War II and his best buddy did not. Joe had not seen Gloria for years and at first glance did not recognize her; she had grown into a lovely and intelligent young woman. They fell deeply in love, and after she turned 19, they were married at San Fernando Cathedral on June 15, 1947 and raised eleven children together.

It seemed motherhood was Gloria’s crowning achievement, yet she was determined to do more. She had always dreamed of becoming an educator; being surrounded by children strengthened her desire to teach. Gloria’s superpower was making learning fun. Many of her children could read before first grade, but not all children adore reading. Some of hers took after their dad, who taught math at Highlands High School for 33 years. They loved numbers, sports and science more. Gloria always knew where to take them for instruction in baseball, swimming, astronomy, natural science and other subjects.

They knew education wasn’t confined to the schoolroom. Sometimes Gloria made history come alive, like the day she allowed her boys to skip classes because President Kennedy’s motorcade was parading through the streets of San Antonio. The next afternoon when they heard he had been assassinated in Dallas, the lesson was all too real. Three of her sons developed a passion for politics and justice. They became attorneys and one successfully argued a case before the United States Supreme Court.

Gloria’s own education was a never-ending quest. At 45, after her youngest child enrolled in school, she went back herself, attending UTSA where she earned her BA and MA, specializing in bilingual education. She was an inspiration to her fellow students and became one of the first members of BESO (Bilingual Education Student Organization), encouraging a group of twelve women to earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. In 2018, she was presented with the UTSA BESO ALLY Award.

After graduation, Gloria taught for 23 years with San Antonio Independent School District: 4th and 5th grade classes at Bowden Elementary. There she became a master teacher, mentoring others. Her desire to improve her mental faculties was relentless. She was awarded a scholarship to study Children’s Literature for three consecutive summers at the University of Madrid in Spain and took the opportunity to travel throughout Europe with her husband.

Gloria had a deep faith in the Roman Catholic Church and was an active member of Our Lady of Sorrows Church for more than 50 years. She served her parish as a catechism teacher and as an usher when Pope John Paul visited San Antonio. She joined the St. Rose of Lima Chapter of Dominican Laity, which holds to the tenets of teaching the gospels and pursuing truth. Gloria was admitted as a Lay Dominican in September 2002 and made her first promise as a Lay Dominican in November 2003.

Gloria was never done with learning. At 90, she enrolled at Academy of Learning in Retirement where she studied Italian, poetry, Tai chi and current events. Her legacy endures: She sent ten sons and daughters to college and her immediate family holds more than 24 degrees. Helen Keller praised Anne Sullivan, the “miracle worker,” who unlocked the world for her through learning, “The most important day I remember in all my life is the one on which my teacher came to me.” For three generations of their family, that cornerstone teacher has always been Gloria Frazer Valdespino.

Gloria was preceded in death by her husband Joe Valdespino, and sons Joe Mark and Gregory. She is survived by her sons Robert (Brenda Rolon), Vincent (Lupe), Edward

(Monica), Martin, Marcus (Ericka) and daughters Anne (Paul Hodgins), Adrienne (Stephen Caplan), Valerie (Doug) Datwyler, and Lorraine (Ed Grafilo) as well as 22 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild.

Services will be held at Roy Akers Funeral Home, 515 N. Main

Ave., San Antonio, with a visitation at 5:30 p.m. and a rosary at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 19. The funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 20 at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 3107 N. St. Mary’s St., San Antonio, with interment to follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.