Gloria Heath Johnston Kidder

Gloria Heath Johnston Kidder, a resident of Kendal at Granville, died at her residence November 24, 2011. She was the daughter of the late John William Johnston II and the late Alice Heath Enslow Johnston.

Gloria, a noted portrait artist, was born in Duncan, Oklahoma while her parents were traveling to Dallas, Texas where her father was an independent oil and gas operator. Gloria spent her early childhood in Texas. Her family later moved from Dallas to New Orleans, then to Shreveport, Louisiana and finally residing in Huntington, West Virginia, the home of her mother's family. Gloria graduated from high school in Huntington, West Virginia and attended Marshall University where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1943. Gloria received a scholarship to attend the Art Institute of Chicago where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1947. While in Chicago she received a four year residency scholarship to reside in the Chicago Three Arts Club. While in her second year at the Art Institute of Chicago, Gloria took a three week leave of absence to travel to Evansville, Indiana where she completed 21 portraits in 21 days and was invited back in the same year where she was commissioned to paint additional portraits.

Gloria worked as a portrait painter in the John G. McCutcheon Studio in Chicago. While working in the studio, she resided with her aunt, Constance Bliss Enslow, who was also an artist in pen, ink and pencil. Gloria's portraits were most frequently done with pastels. While in Chicago, Gloria did numerous portraits, including the portrait of the famous boxer, Jack Dempsey.

Gloria moved to New York City where she studied with the portrait painter, Robert Brachman, for three years at the New York Art Students League and then for one year with Robert Philips at the National Academy of Art. For twenty years she was associated with Portraits, Inc. painting portraits mostly of children in Long Island, West Chester, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Washington D.C. and Illinois. Also, Gloria painted portraits of individuals in England and Scotland. While in Chicago, Gloria met her first husband, John Charles Henderson. They were later married in New York. Gloria's husband, John, died in 1971. While living in New York, Gloria met Ashton Kidder, of Columbus, Ohio. Gloria and Ashton Kidder were married in England in May, 1975 and resided, after their around the world honeymoon trip, in Columbus, Ohio. Gloria's husband, Ashton, died in May, 1986. Gloria has one niece, the daughter of her only brother, Sybil Johnston Thompson of Mocksville, North Carolina and close friends, Janet Inglis of Albany, Lower King, Western Australia and Helen Lehman of Nicholls, Australian Capital Territory. In addition to her parents and her husbands, Gloria was preceded in death by her brother, John William Johnston III, and by her niece, Bliss Johnston Virago. Gloria was a member of the Broad Street Presbyterian Church, the Bexley Art Guild and the Columbus Branch of The English Speaking Union.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of McPeek-Hoekstra Funeral Home, www.mcpeekhoekstra.com. There will be no calling hours. A memorial service celebrating Gloria's life will be held at Kendal at Granville, Ohio at a date to be announced.

Memorial contributions may be made, if desired, to The Columbus Foundation for the Gloria H. Kidder Fund for the benefit the Columbus Museum of Art, Opera Columbus and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, 1234 E. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio 43205-1453.