Gladys Arlene Leight Beal passed away peacefully on April 30, 2020 surrounded by her family at her home in Raleigh, NC. She was born on July 2, 1935 in York Township, PA, the daughter of Albert Leight and Mary Emenheiser Leight Smeltzer. She was a graduate of William Penn High School and York Hospital School of Nursing. She was predeceased by her parents; her sister, Norma Grace Leight; her brother, Donald Leight of Yoe; and her husband, Reverend William Beal, Jr.

Rev. Beal served several churches in the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church and later became the Archivist for the General Commission on Archives and History of the United Methodist Church at Drew University, Madison, NJ. She faithfully served alongside him in ministry wherever life's journey took them. Before her husband's death, she was a member of First United Methodist Church in Somerville, NJ serving as lay delegate to the Annual Conference and on the District Committee of Ordained Ministry as well as the Staff Parish Relations Committee. After his death, she moved to Raleigh, NC to live with her daughter and son-in-law.

In addition to her ministry as pastor's wife, Gladys was a dedicated registered nurse with a specialty in cardiac care and ICU. She retired from Overlook Hospital in Summit, NJ as a nursing supervisor.

She is survived by her daughters, Joyce Horn (Houston) of Raleigh, NC and JoAnn Pun (Tony) of San Diego, CA; her grandchildren: William Franklin Horn (Saudamini Madra) of Los Angeles, CA; Mary Horn of Charlotte, NC; Elizabeth Pun of San Diego and Arlene Pun of Silver Spring, MD; her siblings: Marian Hovis of York, Charlotte Sechrist (Karl) of York, John Leight (Alice) of Windsor, William "Bill" Leight (Diane) of Shrewsbury; and several nieces and nephews.

Due to pandemic protocols a private funeral was held in Raleigh on May 6, 2020. Her graveside service will be held on Saturday, June 12 at 11:00am at Heiland View Cemetery (Chapel Church) in Red Lion.