John Robert “Jack” Glenn died Monday, June 29, 2020 at age 87. He was born Oct. 26, 1932 in Cullman County, AL to Jesse Pendleton and Nellie Guthery Glenn. He weighed 12 pounds at birth on a cotton scale.
He was well known for being colorful, outspoken, and genuine. He had no respect for George Wallace and never enjoyed hearing how wonderful Bear Bryant was. He believed that all left-lane drivers were Alabama fans. He firmly believed that there was a direct correlation between someone’s level of intelligence and the distance between their pupils. He was a genealogy genius and never forgot a face. If your family had roots in Cullman County, he either knew them or knew of them, and there was a good chance that he could offer an opinion on their character. He was a wonderful cook and a notoriously terrible housekeeper. He was impatient and often short-tempered, but had the amazing gift of being able to share in a laugh at his own expense. He became characters in multiple short stories, including bailiff, Jack Glenn, and evil dictator, General Jack Glenn Icutchacokov. It was irrefutable to him that Robert Teichmiller is the greatest Rook player that ever lived and his son-in-law, Raymond Martin, could fix anything that ran on gasoline. He loved dancing almost as much as he loved the “widow women” who danced with him. He could eat creamed corn and okra daily, as long as they were prepared correctly. He had all the time in the world for those he loved and no time for those that he was “in no humor” for. He bravely moved forward following the death of his wife, Bobbie, in 1982, but the pain of that loss remained very evident for the rest of his days.
He was a 1950 graduate of Cullman High School and remained active in keeping up with his classmates until his death. He attended St. Bernard College and was a proud 1957 graduate of Auburn University. He also served in the United States Air Force.
He was predeceased by his parents; his wife Bobbie Copeland Glenn; son-in-law Raymond Martin; brother Bill Glenn; sister Fay Dooley; and brother-in-law Cletus Brown.
He is survived by his daughter Debbie Martin; sons Brad (Linda) and Kelly (Mary) Glenn; grandchildren Chris Martin, Michele (Jonathan) Turner, Brian Peavey, and Mary (Paul) White; great-grandchildren Cameron Martin, Kye Turner, Ronin Peavey, Ryder Wilkins, Avery Wilkins and Maverick White; sisters Frances Brown and Ann Glenn; numerous nieces and nephews; and countless friends.
Just a few days before his death, he insisted on going back to Goat Island Brewing one more time to see his friends. It was at that time that he left us with one last profound statement: “In this world you don’t have anything if you don’t have friends.” It seems only appropriate that the name of the first capsule to orbit the earth was Friendship 7, occupied by a guy with a familiar name. Godspeed John Glenn.
Cremation has taken place, and his remains will be placed next to his wife during a family graveside service Saturday, July 11, 2020. A full celebration of his life will take place at a later date.
