Gwendolyn Tucker Wharton, formerly of Oak Bluffs, died peacefully on November 17 at home with her family on Martha’s Vineyard. Beloved mother of Richard G. “Peter” Wharton Jr. and daughter of (the late) Honorable Herbert E. Tucker Jr., she is survived by her mother Mary H. Tucker (Hill) and sister Gretchen T. Underwood (Tucker), all of Martha’s Vineyard.
Born October 9, 1940, in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Gwen graduated from Girls Latin School in 1958, received her BA in Communications from Simmons College in 1962, and later earned a Master’s degree in counseling from Cambridge College.
After her college graduation, Gwen moved to New Jersey to work and raise her son. She returned to Boston in the early 1970s where she began a career at The Boston Globe spanning 30 years.
After retiring to Martha’s Vineyard, she cared for her parents and pursued her love of gardening by creating an oasis of flowers at her home in Oak Bluffs. A passionate dancer throughout her life, Gwen delighted in the arts and found various ways to pursue these interests on the Island over the years.
For the past seven years, she had worked and developed many long lasting friendships at Windemere Rehabilitation Center.
Gwendolyn is also survived by her niece, Gretchen Mercer (Underwood), her niece’s husband, Parker Bowman, her great nephews Jason and Brandon Mercer and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, Gwen had asked for a donation to be made in her name to the Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, Box 2549, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557
The family invites relatives and friends to a celebration of her life which will be held at 11 am, Saturday, November 26, at Chapman Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown Vineyard-Haven Road, Oak Bluffs. Please visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and directions.
