Glenn C. Housley

WESLACO, TX.– Glenn C. Housley, 90, passed away on Saturday, October 4, 2014, at home, in Weslaco. Glenn was born on December 16, 1923, in Ft. Cobb, Oklahoma, to Claude and Vida Housley. His mother died when he was 13 months old. He was brought to the Rio Grande Valley by his maternal grandfather, Otis Earley. He spent many happy years hunting and fishing with his grandfather and his dogs.
Glenn graduated from Rio Hondo High School in 1941. He volunteered for the United States Navy one day after Pearl Har-bor, December 8, 1941. He was assigned to the USS Vulcan during his four-year tour of duty working on rangefinders and other military devic-es.
In 1945, Glenn returned to the Rio Grande Valley. On May 31, 1945, he married his schoolmate, Margaret Joe Goode. They had three children, Claudia Joe, Donnie Glenn and Nora Faye.
Glenn is preceded in death by his son, Donnie, his parents and grandpar-ents.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret; daughters Claudia (Gaylen) Williams, Plano, and Nora (Robert) Gorhum, Pearsall; grand-daughters Michelle (Ad-am) Tittor, Granbury, Jacqueline (Step-hen) Moody, Devine, and Jennifer (Zach) Samuell, Plano; great granddaugh-ters, Stella Samuell, Pla-no, Maggie Moody, Devine, with a great-granddaughter to be born in November and his loving dog companion, Kelly.
For many years, Glenn drove the Valley highways buying and harvesting seasonal vegetables for the Larry Lightner Packing Company. During this time, he developed a special machine for pre-packaging vegetables. When a water shortage occurred in the Valley, Glenn, being bilingual, went to Central America, working for the United Fruit Company. Glenn enjoyed his time in Cen-tral America.
In 1955, Glenn began working for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, in Harlingen. He became the store manager in Weslaco in 1960, continuing until his retirement in 1987.
Glenn was a very active member of the communi-ty serving as a Deacon in the First Presbyterian Church, member and officer of the Weslaco Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club and Key Club sponsor, Planning and Zoning Board, Hospi-tal Authority Board, Weslaco Library Board, Masonic Lodge, Weslaco Bicultural Museum Board, and Hidalgo County His-torical Commission and the Hidalgo County His-torical Society. In 1985, he received the Chamber of Commerce Outstand-ing Citizen Award and was granted a LIfe Member-ship. In 1987, Glenn was recognized as the Most Outstanding Senior Citi-zen. In 2005, he was rec-ognized for 50 years of service in the Masonic Lodge.
Glenn was well known for his historical presenta-tions of the Rio Grande Valley. He was a gifted photographer of wildlife, nature scenes and native plant life. Glenn could “fix” anything and was a talented woodworker. Glenn loved to fish and to take friends and young people fishing in the Inter Coastal Canal. His friends knew him as a compas-sionate, caring and al-ways ready to help the individual.
The family expresses their deepest appreciation to Dr. Leticia Volpe and Dr. Daniel Farray for the care of Glenn. They also wish to thank Ella Cuth-bertson, Mary Ozias, Knapp Hospital Hospice and Alma Ybarra and the her ladies for their care of Glenn.
A time to visit with the family and viewing will be held from 5 p.m to 8 p.m., Friday, October 10th, at the McCaleb funeral home.
The funeral will be held, Saturday, October 11, at the First Presbyterian Church, of Weslaco, 10 a.m. with the burial to follow at Mont Meta Me-morial Park, San Benito, Texas, at 2pm with Mili-tary and Graveside Rites to be conducted by VFW Post 7473 of Elsa TX. Masonic Rites will be conducted by Mid Valley Masonic Center, Llano Grande Lodge, 1173 out of Weslaco TX.
Pallbearers will be Rog-er Glenn Frietag, Glenn Allen Goode, Michael Glenn Nolan, Michael Arranda, Leonard Garcia, Leon Nunn, Jose Puga, Marcelino Zuiroz, and Marvin Heilman.
In lieu of flowers dona-tions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Weslaco, Valley Nature Center, Knapp Memorial Hospital Memorial Garden or Sonny Glen Children’s Home.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of McCaleb Funeral Home in Weslaco.