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The city lost a neighborhood treasure when Gloria Withrow died last week at the age of 85.

She was seen regularly in the Mexican War Streets tending the Drovers’ Repose Garden at Brighton Road and North Taylor Avenue, across from her home.

Neighbor John Engle, who leads the charge for our monthly neighborhood clean-ups, sent me the news. He writes:

“She lived in the Mexican War Streets for forty-two years of her life,” he wrote. “During that time, she beautified the neighborhood with her love of gardening and her horticultural expertise.  She especially loved Drovers Repose Garden and spent many hours tending it over the years....   

... weeding, trimming the yews into beautiful spheres, sweeping, or cutting back spent blooms, sometimes even on days when the weather would be over 90 degrees.  She was relentless in cleaning up litter.  She generously allowed the Mexican War Streets Society to connect the garden hose to her house to water the garden as there is no water connection at the Garden.

“Her image can be seen in the Sprout Fund mural located at the corner of Brighton Place and Mero Way.  She is the silver haired woman, almost directly in the center of the painting.

“Gloria was a member of many organizations including the Allegheny Elks Lodge No. 339, The Order of the Eastern Star, The American Legion, and The North Side Tenant Association.  She also served as majority clerk for the Voters League.  She worked until the age of seventy when she retired from Mine Safety Appliances.   

“She leaves behind seven sons and one daughter, sisters Nan Cargo and Sheba Brooks, and a host of grandchildren, nieces and nephews.”

Services will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow at St. Benedict The Moor Church, 91 Crawford Street at corner of Center Avenue and Crawford Street behind the Civic Arena.  Viewings today are from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

The Mexican War Streets Society is collecting money for a Memorial Plaque that will be installed in Drovers Repose Garden.  If you would like to make a donation in her honor, please contact John Engle at 412-231-4359 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Checks should be made payable to the Mexican War Streets Society with a note in the memo stating Gloria Withrow Memorial Plaque.

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