Emily Edgerton Gladstone

Emily Edgerton Gladstone, 96, wife of the late Robert Thomas Gladstone, Jr., and former resident of Norfolk, VA, and Naples, FL, passed away on September 24th at Gracemont Assisted Living in Cumming, Georgia.

A native of Philadelphia, PA, she was predeceased by her parents Byron Lloyd Edgerton and Hazel Mueller Edgerton. She is survived by a son, Robert Thomas Gladstone, III, and his wife, Kay, Marietta, GA and a daughter, Dale Gladstone Clegg, and her husband George (Bud,) Dahlonega, GA, three granddaughters, one grandson and four great grandchildren.

A fearless child at 4, Emily went into the kitchen unobserved with a pet goldfish. Later she was found sitting under the sink with a headless fish stating "Emmy eating feer" (story told by her mother.)

Adventuresome and athletic, she played high school lacrosse at Friends Central. She continued the sport at the College of William and Mary playing on the varsity team. Needing to start 10 games to letter, the 10th and last game her coach asked her to play on the guest team as they were short one player. She agreed and lettered. Her telling of the story helped her children understand good sportsmanship. Emily played tennis all her adult life and was a self-taught sailor. She and her daughter were on a water ballet team together.

If living well is the best revenge, she got it. The life of the party with diverse friends, she loved to tell a joke and not all church jokes. An expert seamstress, she made costumes for her children as well as her own. Accompanying her children for trick or treat and houses not offering candy incurred her wrath. She would beat on the door with her broom and as they opened the door, stick in the handle and say "Get the kids a treat!" This sums up her personality.

She deviated from the pack in fashion by telling her children not to copy styles but to create them. An avid knitter, she made sweaters and blankets for her children and grandchildren. She was proud of her children most of the time.

She would quote Richard Lovelace "Stone walls do not a prison make nor iron bars a cage." Before she became a world traveler, she traveled in her mind by reading travel books. Finally becoming a world traveler, she sponsored travel for her children. On one trip, Emily toured in a VW camper through Spain, North Africa, Sicily and Greece. Other trips took her to China, England, Germany, Southern Spain and France. Emily retired to Naples, FL with her husband and enjoyed the sun, the beach and many friends. While in Naples, she became a "conchologist," readily identifying every shell on the beach. She played duplicate bridge, earning several Master points. She remained active with Kappa Delta Sorority and received the "White Rose" award.

Defying the Surgeon General's report, Emily enjoyed cigarettes, cocktails, long days in the sun without sunscreen, and lived to be 96. She even had to be released from hospice care twice because her condition had improved