Palestine High School Alumni Association

02 / 16 / 1932 – 07 / 15 / 2008

Services for Gloria McCracken Selden, 76, of Palestine will be held at 10 a.m. Friday with the Rev. Linda Herron officiating. Burial will follow in Pilgrim Cemetery near Elkhart. Arrangements are under the direction of Bailey and Foster Funeral Home, Palestine. Mrs. Selden died Tuesday at the David E. Foster Hospice Unit at Palestine Regional Medical Center. She was born Feb. 16, 1932, in Palestine to A.Y. and Lucinda Ellen (Lula) Parker McCracken. She was a 1951 graduate of Palestine High School and attended Baylor University before her marriage. Mrs. Selden was married 56 years to Jack K. Selden Jr., former mayor of Palestine. She accompanied her husband during his Air Force career to a number of U.S. Air Force Bases as well as several overseas stations.She returned to Palestine in 1970 where she was a charter member and past president of the Harvey Woman’s Club, as well as a member and past president of the Literary Forum. She was an accomplished bridge player and played several times a week for many years. She was an avid reader, particularly of biographies and history and generally read for an hour or more every evening.Mrs. Selden was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Palestine, serving on the Session of the Church for several years.She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter Cynthia Ann; and a brother, Horace. Mrs. Selden is survived by her husband, Jack K. Selden Jr. of Palestine; grandchildren, Betsy Herrington, Lucinda Wheeler, Shana McReynolds and Sandy Waldon; son-in-law, Bob Herrington and wife Rhonda; son-in-law, Charles McReynolds; sister-in-law, Gerry Selden-Janik; sister-in-law, Peggy Selden; great-grandchildren, Ethan Wheeler, Ashley Waldon and William Waldon. Pallbearers will be Eddie Selden, Rush Selden, Kevin Selden, Jim Bob Parker, Jacob Wheeler and Scott Nicholson. All members of the PHS Class of 1951 will serve as honorary pallbearers. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Bailey and Foster Funeral Home, Palestine.Memorials may be made to Pilgrim Cemetery Association, c/o the Elkhart State Bank or to a charity of choice. Published in the Herald-Press on 7/17/2008