NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Walter Henry Glenn, founder of the North Bridge Yacht Club in New Smyrna Beach, which now boasts 567 members, died unexpectedly at his New Smyrna Beach home Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009. He was 72 years old.
Born in Concord, N.C., Glenn came to this area in 1992 from Tampa. He was a 1955 graduate of Greenville (South Carolina) High School, and a 1959 graduate of the University of Georgia, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and pitcher for the varsity baseball team, holding the record for the school's second lowest earned run average.
Glenn served in the Army Reserves from 1957 until 1959. During the Berlin Crisis in 1960, he was called back to active duty with the Special Forces at Fort Bragg, N.C.
From 1961 to 1987, Glenn was sales operational manager with Owens-Illinois Forest Products Division. He then became vice-president of Berry Packaging in Tampa until his retirement in 2001.
Along with his wife, Carolyn, Glenn founded the North Bridge Yacht Club in New Smyrna Beach. He was a member of the Coronado Community United Methodist Church; the Marine Discovery Center; the Southeast Volusia Historical Society; American Legion Post 17; and was a licensed boat captain. He was also a former New Smyrna Beach Utilities Commissioner; former volunteer at Bert Fish Medical Center; and a former member of Smyrna Yacht Club.
Glenn was also a frequent attendee of New Smyrna Beach City Commission meetings.
Glenn had a huge lust for life. He loved his Georgia Bulldogs, singing Karaoke, enjoyed cruising around in his electric car "The Beach Dawg," telling jokes, and living life to its fullest.
Besides his his wife of 49 years and high school sweetheart, Carolyn, Glenn is survived by his son, Walter III and wife, Donna, and their children, Hank, Fielding, and John, of Bowling Green, Ky.; his daughter, Cathy Glenn Sullivan and husband, Selby, and their children, Matt and Teagan, of Oviedo, and his faithful dog, Georgia.
A celebration of Glenn's life was held Friday at Coronado Community United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Robert C. Brown officiating. A reception followed at the family home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Coronado Community United Methodist Church, 201 S. Peninsula Avenue, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169, or American Cancer Society Southeast 1737 N. Clyde Morris Blvd., Suite 140,Daytona Beach, Florida 32119. Condolences may be sent online to www.settlewilderfuneralhome.com.