Gloria Lorraine Hibbitts (née Buchhold), 94, of St. Louis, MO, passed away peacefully on June 4, 2026, at Stonebridge Lakeside Meadows Nursing Home in Osage Beach, MO.

Gloria was born on February 8, 1932, in St. Louis, MO, to Louis Buchhold I and Florence Viola (Vi) Buchhold (née Voracek). She grew up in south St. Louis and graduated from Cleveland High School. On June 30, 1951, she married Wayne Gordon Hibbitts, and together they shared sixty-nine wonderful years and raised five children.

Gloria was a remarkably quiet and kind soul who genuinely loved meeting new people. Her warmth was felt by many through her work in daycare and her time handing out samples at Schnucks, where her friendly demeanor turned brief interactions into bright spots in people's days. At the inspiring age of 89, Gloria decided to dive into a new passion and began reading novels, quickly falling in love with Amish romance stories and Danielle Steel books.

Above all, Gloria’s greatest joy was her family. She loved spending time with her loved ones, playing board games and card games, and filling the room with laughter. To honor her bright spirit, her favorite color, turquoise, will always be a reminder of the beauty she brought into the world.

She is survived by her children, Linda Hibbitts, Michael (Mike) Hibbitts (Sherrie), James Hibbitts (Lisa), and Tracy Hibbitts; 15 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; two nephews; and one niece.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved brother, Louis Buchhold II; her husband; her son, Robert (Bob); and three grandchildren, Silas Jarami Boschert, Jules Kyle Hibbitts, and Christopher Daniel Hibbitts.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 12, at 1:00 p.m. at Follis & Sons Funeral Home in Fredericktown, MO. Public visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Knob Lick Cemetery.