IN LOVING MEMORY OF GLORIA E. FOSTER KIRVEN
Gloria Esterlyne Foster Kirven passed away peacefully in Los Angeles, California, at 87, on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. She was an inspirational teacher, loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Born in Longview, Texas, Gloria was the daughter of Lillie Jameson Jones, a veteran Dallas school teacher, and Homer Calvin Foster of Dallas, a successful Black real estate agent.
After graduating at age 16 from Booker T Washington High School, Gloria began college
at Spellman, but she graduated Cum Laude from Texas College. There, she won academic awards and, along with other activities, was Dean of Pledges for the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. After graduate work at Columbia University, she taught in Cushing, Texas.
Gloria married her high school sweetheart, Joe Kirven, and they remained married for
Sixty-three years until Joe died in 2021. Young Gloria sold her car to help start the
family business, ABCO Corporation and handled the payroll and accounting. She
also worked for her father at H.C. Foster Real Estate. She and Joe were
longtime members of St. John Missionary Baptist Church, where Gloria sang,
played the organ for the choir, and taught Sunday School.
Eventually, Gloria and Joe had their daughter Josette. When Josette attended the Hockaday
School in Dallas, Gloria and Joe were the first Black parents and the first
Black members of the Board of Trustees. Gloria hosted and accompanied Joe to
numerous national and state political events, meeting many political luminaries, including President Nixon and Presidents Bush. Later, Gloria taught English for DISD schools and privately taught piano and organ. Her music students won many piano competitions. In addition, Gloria served on the Boards of Dallas Planned Parenthood and Young Audiences and joined the Links organization.
Gloria continued her graduate studies at North Texas University, earning a Master’s Degree in English and American Literature. After graduation, Gloria worked for Brookhaven College (Now Dallas College) as an instructor.
Once her grandsons, Gregory and Michael, were born, she visited them often in Los Angeles. She adored them.
Before the pandemic, Gloria worked with Joe in the Dallas Wiley Club to create and successfully fund the Joe Kirven Scholarship Fund for Wiley students.
Gloria is survived by her daughter, Josette; son-in-law Gregory Valtierra III; her grandsons, Gregory Valtierra IV and Michael Valtierra; and Kirven relatives and friends.
Services will be held Friday, March 31, 2023, at 2 PM at Laurel Land Funeral Home.
Visitation will be Thursday, March 30, 2023, from 6 PM to 8 PM at the exact location. Masks are welcome. She will be missed by all that knew her.
