Gloria Miranda was born September 18th, 1932 in San Benito, Texas to her parents Jose Pedraza and Nestora Mata. She was the oldest of her five siblings. At age of 13, she lost her mother and became the motherly and protective big sister until her father remarried to her stepmother, Juana, in 1945. At that time her family gained four other sisters, making the total number of siblings ten to include: Gloria herself, Eva Petty, Ofelia Bowls, Israel Pedraza, Jose Pedraza Jr., Elida Pedraza, Cristella Spurgeon, Anita Lopez, Lydia Stephens, and Rachel Vasquez.

She graduated from Kennewick High School in 1950, then went on to learn at Western Baptist Bible College shortly after high school where she then met her husband Rafael Miranda in 1954. They married on October 6th, 1956 in Richland, WA. Once married they made quite the life living in California where Gloria and Ralph helped found and pastor many churches, where Gloria would be known as, “ The First Lady of The Church”, a term she fit the part very well. She was a secretary for Los Angeles County for almost 23 years.

Gloria had two children Debbie and David who lived with them during their time in California growing up. Debbie married in 1985 and blessed Gloria with three grandchildren: Steven, Adam and Cierra Morin. Adam and his wife Kathryne blessed Gloria again with three great grandchildren: Aeneas, Roman and Adryan Morin.

In 1998, Gloria and Ralph made their home for the past decade in Richland, where she helped run the Hispanic ministry along Rafael at Richland Baptist Church until his passing in 2011.

Living alongside her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who made her heart very full up to her passing on July 20, 2022.

She is survived in death by her sisters: Anita Lopez, Ofelia Bowls, and Eva Petty, children Debbie Encinas (Mark) and David Miranda, grandchildren Steven Morin, Adam Morin (Kathryne), and Cierra Morin, three great grandchildren Aeneas, Roman and Adryan Morin as well as many other family members. She is preceded in death by her parents: Jose Pedraza and Nestora Mata, siblings: Israel Pedraza, Cristella Spurgeon, Lydia Stephens, Elida Pedraza, Jose Pedraza Jr, and Rachel (Raquel) Vasquez and many more dear to her heart.

Gloria’s viewing will be Friday July 29th, 2022 at Sunset Memorial Gardens Chapel from 3 to 5 pm located at 915 Bypass Highway in Richland. Funeral services will be Saturday July 30th at 10 am at Sunset Memorial Gardens Chapel with graveside to follow. A potluck style reception will be held at Richland Baptist Church located at 1632 George Washington Way in Richland following the graveside service. Flowers can be sent in lieu of Gloria Miranda to Sunset Memorial Gardens for the funeral.