George W. Glenn

Funeral services for George William Glenn, 77, of Sallisaw, OK, will be held Wednesday, September 5, 2018, 11:00am at Immanuel Baptist Church, Sallisaw, OK. Burial will follow at Sallisaw City Cemetery under the direction of Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home.

George was born June 24, 1941 in Vinita, OK to Vernon L. and Lela (Page) Glenn. He passed from this life on September 1, 2018 with his beloved family by his side.
He graduated from Vinita High School in 1959 where he excelled in football, basketball, track, and baseball. George also participated in the All-State Chorus and was a member of the Oklahoma All State Quartet. He attended Connors State College on a football and baseball scholarship.

George married the love of his life, Deanna (West), on June 1, 1962. He joined the Army National Guard in 1963. In 1965, they welcomed the light of their lives, their daughter, Tracy. George, Deanna, and Tracy moved to Sallisaw, OK in 1965 where he would establish his family and spend the rest of his life. He led a life of honor as a cherished family member and a pillar of his community.

He served as the youngest manager of Southwestern Bell for several years before he began employment as the Manager of the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce. This was only the beginning of his service to his beloved community. Following his years at the Chamber, George became an MFA Insurance Agent which later became Shelter Insurance. George, or “Mr. Glenn,” served his customers faithfully for 46 years. Known for his personal service, George knew his customers by name and treated everyone with respect.

During his tenure as an insurance agent, he also sought to serve the community. In April 1977, he was elected mayor and served the city of Sallisaw for the next 25 years. In this role, his goal was to always provide the best possible services at the lowest cost for the citizens of Sallisaw.

Outside of his own community, he also served as the Chairman of the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA).
He enjoyed golfing, fishing, and hunting with his friends. He was a talented singer, sometimes even mistaken for Johnny Cash. He shared his love for music with his granddaughters and enjoyed karaoke with them. George faithfully went to coffee, first at Lessley’s Café and later at Ed’s and Charlie’s Chicken, with some of his closest friends. He loved watching his daughter’s, granddaughters’, and great-grandsons’ events: basketball, softball, clogging, baseball, and football. He was always one of the biggest fans with the best advice in the stands. “Papa” or “Pop” was the wisest and funniest man in every room he walked into.
George’s legacy will live on for decades to come in his community but, first and foremost in his family.

George is survived by his wife, Deanna, of the home; daughter, Tracy Baker and husband, Randall of Sallisaw; granddaughter, Kylie Rutherford and husband, Mark and sons Grayson West Grinstead and Gunny Rutherford of Sallisaw;granddaughter, Kelsie Jones and husband, Jon, son Jonathan Blake Jones of Sallisaw and identical twins arriving in February; granddaughter, Kalyn Fullbright and husband Aaron of Shawnee, OK; sister. Shirley Glenn Berry and husband Ed of Vinita, OK; sister, Frankie Glenn Callahan of Miami, OK; sister, Dixie Glenn Hardwick of Jerseyville, IL; sister-in-law, Donna West Smith and husband Bo of Bernice, OK; and sister-in-law, Sheila West of Vinita, OK.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon L. and Lela Page Glenn; sister, Mary Lou Glenn Casto; brother-in-law, Bill Elmore; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Charles J. West and Mary West; and his brother-in-law Charles E. “Red” West.

Pallbearers include Randall Baker, Jon Jones, Aaron Fullbright, Mark Rutherford, Bo Smith, Rodney Smith, Grayson West Grinstead, and Jonathan Blake Jones.

Honorary pallbearers include Wayne Craghead, Larry Randolph, Jim Breashears, JJ Hight, Jim Hudgens, Doug Hoover, Larry O’Neal, Stanley Collins, Don Elwick, Lloyd Haskins, Jim Brown, John Bell and his coffee shop crew and golfing buddies.

Viewing will be held Tuesday, September 4, from 10:00am-8:00pm at Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home in Sallisaw. The family will also receive friends from 6:00pm-8:00pm at the funeral home.

The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce, 301 E. Cherokee Ave., Sallisaw, OK 74955.