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As long as the foliage was beginning to die back some, your bulbs should be fine but you may want to wait for the first frost before digging them up next year. This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/gladiola/storing-gladiola-corms.htm

In your zone (9b), you do not need to dig up your gladilous corms. They do reproduce and will return each year in warmer climates such as yours. Here is more info on their care: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/gladiola/care-of-gladiolas-how-to-grow-gladiolas-in-your-garden.htm

Yes, now is the time to get these out of the ground and ready for winter storage. This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/gladiola/storing-gladiola-corms.htm

While the new corm is forming atop the old one, small new corms called cormels or cormlets are produced from the base (Figure 2). Cormels are a chief means of propagating a certain variety of gladiolias.
Healthy corms are essential for producing vigorous plants with flowers of maximum size for each variety. A healthy corm should have smooth husks that are not discolored or damaged. The corm itself should be firm and without any dark areas or spots on the surface after the husk is removed. The base of the corm, where the old corm was removed, should be firm.
This article might help: https://questions.gardeningknowhow.com/tag/gladiolus/page/7

Glad blooms naturally fade as they age.

...not sure what you mean by "bloomed and died before flowering". The following link will take you to several articles about gladiolus: http://www.google.com/cse?cx=012078378210706707791%3Af1h5n_k1r5e&ie=UTF-8&q=glads+not+blooming&oq=&gs_l=#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=gladiolus