Gloria Love Lefiles

Gloria Love LeFiles

January 4, 1928 – May 25, 2018

Gloria Love LeFiles, age 90, passed away peacefully on Friday May 25, 2018 at the Fountains of the Albemarle in Tarboro, NC.   A long-time resident of the retirement community, Mrs. LeFiles received love and caring attention from the staff and administration there. 

Mrs. LeFiles was born and raised in Valdosta, GA.  She graduated from Valdosta High School, where she was involved in many activities.  Shortly after the end of World War II, she met Leonard Arthur LeFiles, Jr. who had returned from service in the U.S. Navy to work in his family’s business, LeFiles Automotive located in Valdosta. They were married on February 1, 1947.  Mrs. LeFiles maintained a lively household that included 4 sons and several dogs.

Later on, the couple became active in the North Florida Retriever Club, where they participated in field trials with their prize-winning Labrador retrievers. 

In 1987, Gloria and Leonard moved to Tarboro, NC to partner with their oldest son Leonard, III (Lenny) in a new car dealership, LeFiles Pontiac.  They lived there for 10 years before retiring to build their dream home in Tallahassee FL.

The couple celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary in 2006, shortly before Mr. LeFiles passed away after several years of suffering with the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease.  Gloria provided tender and loving care for him at their home.  She returned to Tarboro in 2011 to be closer to family.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. LeFiles was preceded in death by her parents, Paul T. and Lucille N. Love; her brother Paul T. Love, Jr.; and her sister Virginia L. Kilgore.  She is survived by her sons: Leonard A. LeFiles III (wife Diane) of Tarboro, NC; Daniel T. LeFiles (wife Marsha) of Aiken, SC; Michael D. LeFiles (Jackie Walker) of Isla Mujeres, MEX; and Richard A. LeFiles (wife Lynn) of Yankeetown, FL.  Other survivors include 5 grandsons and 3 great-grandchildren.

The family may be contacted at their homes or through the website for Carlisle Funeral Home in Tarboro (carlislefuneralhome.com). A memorial service will be held in August at the Sunset Hill Cemetery in Valdosta, GA.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of Gloria LeFiles may be made to the Albemarle Employees Bonus Fund, c/o Director Terri Horton, 200 Trade Street, Tarboro, NC 27886.

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