Obituary for Gloria Jean Dean (Arrowood)
Gloria (MaMaw) Jean Arrowood Dean was a beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend during her incredible 81 years of life. She passed away after a short illness in the early morning hours on Saturday, September 24, 2022, with family by her side.
Gloria, born February 3, 1941, was the third child of Carlos and Clara Arrowood. She was raised in Towns County, Hiawassee, Georgia where she helped on the family farm and graduated Towns County High School in 1959.
In December of 1958, she went to her sister Nan’s wedding and met the love of her life—the groom’s brother, Robert. She took one look at him and said, “He’s mine!” And she meant it. They were married on December 19, 1959. The two Dean brothers married two Arrowood sisters which would create a tight family bond that continues to this day.
In the early days of their marriage, she worked at an insurance company in downtown Atlanta taking the trolley to work. Soon Robert would find a career at Lockheed that lasted until he retired. Once she became pregnant with their first child, Robert Jr., Gloria settled into her most important career: mom and homemaker where she would have two more children, Scott, and Becky, soon after.
Robert’s job took them on an adventure of a lifetime by relocating to Germany for five years. Their excursions included taking the family RV to a different country almost every weekend. One day, while in Germany, Robert and Gloria sat the three children down to announce they were adding one more sibling to the family, Paula. She rounded out their family of six.
Once the assignment was over in Germany, Robert, and Gloria and their four children lived in various cities and states across the U.S. But in the end, Roberts last assignment brought them all back to Georgia where Gloria lived out her last 23 years in what she called “her dream home”.
In 1997, we almost lost her to an aggressive form of cancer, but after a year and a half battle, cancer didn’t win. And we were blessed with an additional 25 years with her.
Gloria’s legacy can be summed up in three words: faith, family, and food. Gloria was a long-standing member of the Church of Christ. Robert and Gloria were faithful in raising their children in the church and were a part of several ministries over the years. Gloria was also a fabulous southern cook. She was known for her hospitality and for sharing her recipes with anyone who wanted them. She was also famous for the most amazing multi-tiered wedding cakes that weren’t only beautiful, but delicious too.
Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, Carlos and Clara Arrowood, her brother Dale Arrowood, and her sisters Loretta Arrowood, her brother Dale Arrowood, and his sisters Loretta Arrowood Owens and Nan Arrowood Dean.
Gloria leaves behind her adoring husband of 63 years, Robert Edward Dean, Sr., four children, Robert Edward Dean, Jr. (Joyce), Gregory Scott Dean (Joanna), Rebecca Lynne Dean Landers (Lee), and Paula Dean. Eleven grandchildren and seven great- grandchildren. While we will never be the same after the passing of our matriarch, she has left us with memories of her most admirable traits: her unparalleled way of showing her love, her compassion, her sense of adventure, and that laugh – her beautiful full-of life belly laugh that would light up a room. Her legacy will live on in all that knew her.
Her celebration of life will take place at Blairsville Church of Christ at 62 Church of Christ Drive, Blairsville, Georgia on Saturday, October 1, 2022, at 2 pm.
Gloria, born February 3, 1941, was the third child of Carlos and Clara Arrowood. She was raised in Towns County, Hiawassee, Georgia where she helped on the family farm and graduated Towns County High School in 1959.
In December of 1958, she went to her sister Nan’s wedding and met the love of her life—the groom’s brother, Robert. She took one look at him and said, “He’s mine!” And she meant it. They were married on December 19, 1959. The two Dean brothers married two Arrowood sisters which would create a tight family bond that continues to this day.
In the early days of their marriage, she worked at an insurance company in downtown Atlanta taking the trolley to work. Soon Robert would find a career at Lockheed that lasted until he retired. Once she became pregnant with their first child, Robert Jr., Gloria settled into her most important career: mom and homemaker where she would have two more children, Scott, and Becky, soon after.
Robert’s job took them on an adventure of a lifetime by relocating to Germany for five years. Their excursions included taking the family RV to a different country almost every weekend. One day, while in Germany, Robert and Gloria sat the three children down to announce they were adding one more sibling to the family, Paula. She rounded out their family of six.
Once the assignment was over in Germany, Robert, and Gloria and their four children lived in various cities and states across the U.S. But in the end, Roberts last assignment brought them all back to Georgia where Gloria lived out her last 23 years in what she called “her dream home”.
In 1997, we almost lost her to an aggressive form of cancer, but after a year and a half battle, cancer didn’t win. And we were blessed with an additional 25 years with her.
Gloria’s legacy can be summed up in three words: faith, family, and food. Gloria was a long-standing member of the Church of Christ. Robert and Gloria were faithful in raising their children in the church and were a part of several ministries over the years. Gloria was also a fabulous southern cook. She was known for her hospitality and for sharing her recipes with anyone who wanted them. She was also famous for the most amazing multi-tiered wedding cakes that weren’t only beautiful, but delicious too.
Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, Carlos and Clara Arrowood, her brother Dale Arrowood, and her sisters Loretta Arrowood, her brother Dale Arrowood, and his sisters Loretta Arrowood Owens and Nan Arrowood Dean.
Gloria leaves behind her adoring husband of 63 years, Robert Edward Dean, Sr., four children, Robert Edward Dean, Jr. (Joyce), Gregory Scott Dean (Joanna), Rebecca Lynne Dean Landers (Lee), and Paula Dean. Eleven grandchildren and seven great- grandchildren. While we will never be the same after the passing of our matriarch, she has left us with memories of her most admirable traits: her unparalleled way of showing her love, her compassion, her sense of adventure, and that laugh – her beautiful full-of life belly laugh that would light up a room. Her legacy will live on in all that knew her.
Her celebration of life will take place at Blairsville Church of Christ at 62 Church of Christ Drive, Blairsville, Georgia on Saturday, October 1, 2022, at 2 pm.