Mrs. Leona Gladys Gholson, 78, of Newton and formerly of Mt. Pleasant, died Monday, July 9, 2012, at her home in Newton.

She was born Oct. 13, 1933, in Burlington, the daughter of William and Iona Plank Prehm. On June 14, 1953, she married Richard Gholson at Beulah Church in Mt. Pleasant. She was a 1951 graduate of New London High School. She was also a 1953 graduate of Iowa State Teacher’s College and graduated from Marycrest College in 1972. She was an elementary school teacher in Merced, Calif., Huxley, Iowa, Central Community in DeWitt, Iowa, and retired from the New London Schools in 1994. In retirement she continued being active by substitute teaching, volunteering, playing Mrs. Santa Claus, watching the Hawkeyes, Cubs, Bears, Bulls and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Mrs. Gholson is survived by her children, Terry (Karen) Gholson of Grimes and their children, Zebulon and Taryn; Tamara (Britt Blaser) Bavendam of New York, N.Y., and her son, James (Natalie Stovall) Bavendam; Tim (Deana) Gholson of Iowa City and their sons, Gregory and Grant; Troyt (Karla) Gholson of Newton and their children, Kelsey, Erin and Connor; Traci (Tracy) Nicholson of Winfield  and their children, Morgan, Jenalyn and Brianne; and her son, Callen. She also is survived by two sisters, Norma (Robert) Brodi and Carol Prehm, and her nieces and nephews.