Gladys Ulrich, resident of The Villages since 2017, passed away at the age of 92 on June 14th, 2025.
Gladys was raised in Michigan. She moved to Chicago, IL after high school where she worked as a secretary. She met her future husband, Bill, at a dance. They married in 1954 and soon moved to the newly established suburb of Elk Grove Village, IL where they raised their three children. Gladys managed the home and family while Bill traveled in his sales job.
During the years when raising their family, traveling had been a love of both of them. Family vacations were taken with the trailer in tow, visiting state and national parks. They found adventure where it could be had.
In the 1970s Bill and Gladys grabbed an opportunity to become small business owners of a quick printing business, Insty-Prints, then in its infancy. Gladys managed their first store, turning it from a money-losing venture into a profitable one. Gladys proved to be an astute and successful businesswoman, and opened more shops. At their high point, Bill and Gladys had four locations. In 1994 she won the Women Franchise of the Year Award.
During this growth phase, her daughter Valerie joined the family business. She later married, and her husband also joined the business. Gladys and Bill ran Insty-Prints for 20 years before they decided to retire. Valerie and her husband Lee took over the business.
In retirement, Gladys and Bill traveled the country and the world. They bought a large Airstream motor home and traveled extensively, especially as part of an Airstream owner’s group, traveling to meeting points around the country. Bill and Gladys led several “rallys” to great acclaim. They also traveled internationally with a variety of groups and enjoyed cruising. A highlight was a “round the world” tour. For several years they owned a second home in Texas to be closer to their son, Mark and granddaughter Andrea, while also staying close to daughters Valerie and Laura, and their families back in Illinois.
Gladys’s husband Bill passed away in 2010 and Gladys moved to a condominium and began traveling on her own. In 2012, Gladys met a widower who became very important in her life – Will Halloran. They were together for ten years until Will passed away.
Gladys moved to the Villages in 2017 to be near her daughter Valerie, who by then had retired and had moved with her husband to The Villages, Florida a retirement community.
Two years ago, she discovered a church that she loved – Immanual Baptist Church (now known as First Baptist Church of Leesburg – Oxford Campus). She called it her “happy church.” There, she brought in several new members, including her oldest daughter, Valerie.
Gladys has been an active member playing duplicate bridge, where she earned Life Master status. This was a joy of hers for 20 years.
She is survived by three adult children: Valerie, Mark, and Laura, and her grandchildren Andrea, John, and Justin.
Her memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 19th, starting at 10:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church Leesburg, Oxford Campus (8015 SE 180th St CR 102, Oxford, FL 34484).