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SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Gloria Galt Born on June 25th, 1925 in Ardmore, Oklahoma to the late Allierose Breeding Galt and Edward McGee Galt, she passed peacefully of natural causes on January 5th, 2021, at her San Antonio home to be with the Lord in Heaven. Gloria was a true optimist, a free-spirited Southern Belle, who blessed all who knew her with her warm spirit, generosity, kindness and charm. She was the middle child of three daughters and the granddaughter of the first Mayor of Ardmore, Judge John Galt. Gloria was an exceptional student and excelled in the arts from an early age. In 7th Grade she won 1st Place in the Ardmore city-wide Essay Contest. Prior to her family’s move to San Antonio in 1940, she attended Hockaday School in Dallas, and then transferred to St. Mary’s Hall for her Senior Year, where she was a member of the French Club, the Book Club and was the Editor-in-Chief of her High School yearbook - La Reata. After graduating from High School, she attended the University of Texas in Austin where she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority and briefly studied abroad at the University of Mexico. As a result, she was selected as a San Antonio debutante to represent the United States during the International Fiesta in Mexico City. Shortly after graduating from the University of Texas in Austin, she moved to New York City where she earned her Master of Fine Arts from Parson’s School of Design. Due to her educational studies in Mexico, she became intrigued with the people, art and culture of Mexico and decided to move to San Miguel de Allende, where she fell in love, and cultivated her artistic passion for Mexican art and culture. She soon made a life-long bond with her long-time companion Bobby Barclay, who shared in her passion for all things Mexico. Known for her artistic abilities, to commemorate the 1968 World’s Fair, Gloria was asked to design the “Key to Our City,” which was a 15 inches long bronze key that featured the Texas Flag waving over the Alamo ensconced by Texas Blue Bonnets, which is referred to as the Galt Key. As Gloria’s young nephews grew, they affectionately, and appropriately, began to refer to her as Pretty Gloria, which special nickname was quickly adopted by all. Then, when Gloria’s nephew and niece, Nancy and Edward Steves, were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, they lovingly named their daughter, Gloria Galt Steves. (Surely the late Edward Galt is honored that his last name has survived through three more generations after his three daughters). Gloria was a Belle of all Balls. She would make you laugh, learn and appreciate life. Her life was like a romantic movie, with ageless sophistication, late-night parties surrounded by fascinating people from around the world and she enjoyed nothing more than celebrating with her like-minded friends, no matter how late the Ball went on - hence one of her favorite quotes: “Better late than never.” She once remarked, “what does the Belle of the Ball do when the Ball is over?” Well, if you are Gloria Galt, you simply continue the Ball in Heaven. Gloria supported various philanthropic projects, especially those involving education and the arts and devoted her time and talent as an Angel to the Southwest School of Arts, the San Antonio Museum of Art, San Antonio Area Foundation, among countless others. She was an Emeritus Member of the U.T.S.A. Development Board, was on the Argyle Board of Governors, and maintained memberships at the San Antonio Country Club, Club Giraud, The Junior League of San Antonio and Saint Marks Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; Allierose and Edward McGee Galt, and her sisters Betty Galt Brown and Patricia Galt Steves. Gloria is survived her nieces and nephews, Susan Brown Barry, Marshall Terrell Steves Jr., Edward Galt Steves, Sam Bell Steves II; their wives: Jane Williams Steves, Nancy Marchbanks Steves and Sarah Hause Steves. She leaves behind her beloved her grandneices and nephews: Lissa Galt Steves Allen, her husband, Paul Gregory Allen, Marshall Terrell Steves III, his wife, Mandy Beck Steves, Gloria Galt Steves Dilley, her husband, Miguel Evan Dilley, Sarah Elizabeth Steves, Sam Bell Steves III, his wife, Megan Lynn Steves, and Lida Wilhelmina Emilia Steves, and her husband, Charles S. Plummer III. She also leaves behind two great-grandnieces: Charlotte Elizabeth Allen, Penelope Galt Allen, as well as four great-grandnephews: Sam Bell Steves IV, Edward Galt Steves Dilley, Michael Galt Steves and Marshall Terrell Steves IV. Her grandniece, Brice Galt Barry Russian, her husband, Laurence Kachig Russian, and their two children, Lily Galt Russian, Townes Henry Russian, along with her grandnephew, Andrew Earl Barry. As well as her extended family, Angie and Kit Goldsbury and her Godchild, Christopher Goldsbury, Nan and Patrick Watson, their three children, Hallie Nixon Watson, Patrick Boisseau Watson III, and Williams Cunningham Watson, as well as Nan’s sister, Susan Cunningham Lewis, her husband, Steven C. Lewis and their children. Serving as pallbearers are: Miguel Evan Dilley, Edward Galt Steves, Marshall Terrell Steves, Jr., Marshall Terrell Steves, III, Sam Bell Steves II, and Sam Bell Steves III. The family would be remiss not to recognize and thank: Will McLaurin, Caroline Juarez, Linda Dallo, Hope Trevino, Judith Martinez, Delia Steinmetz, Rachel Ramirez, Patricia Aguilar, Christine Bartolome, Maria Delgado, Melanie Mireles, Deborah Amezcua, Nora Saenz, and Brenda Jaye for their care and devotion over many years, as well as Mission Park Funeral Homes for their service. Gloria was a devoted member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, where a public celebration of her life will be held at a future date. A private graveside service will be held on Friday, January 8, 2021 at the Steves Family Cemetery in Comfort, Texas. In lieu of flowers, Gloria would encourage all to take a river taxi ride along our San Antonio River and disembark at the Gloria Galt River Landing at the San Antonio Museum of Art and spend the day exploring the treasures inside our San Antonio Museum of Art.

Tributes

Gloria Galt

June 25, 1925 - January 5, 2021