Glessner Ruth Roth

Glessner was born in Colby, Kansas to Homer and Edith Wade. She was the youngest of 11 children. In 1953, Glessner married Douglas Clayton Roth in Bermuda. Douglas's military life lead the couple to call various places home including France, Colorado, and finally Tucson, Arizona. They had 4 children - Joyce Lynn, Rita Dawn, Douglas Dean, and Darrell Dwayne. Gless loved serving Jesus and enjoyed teaching her faith to others. Known as “Mama Gless”, she joyfully ministered to the homeless in Tucson, organizing and running the Soup Kitchen for the Salvation Army as well as running various prison ministry programs throughout the state for over 20 years. A multi Tucson volunteer of the year award winner, her generosity and heart for serving people was admired by many.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Douglas of 56 years, and her eldest daughter, Joyce. Those who survive her include her son-in-law, Stephen Harrison of Atwater CA , daughter Rita Torborg of Tucson AZ, son Douglas Dean and Lisa Roth of Lexington OK, and son Darrell and Sandy Roth of Canyon Lake CA, her sister Bonnie and Gene Whetsone of Careywood Idaho, 17 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. She will be missed by many.

Funeral services celebrating and honoring the life of Glessner R Roth, 85, will be held at 9:30am at East Lawn Palms Mortuary Tucson AZ on Friday September 6th. Interment will follow in the East Lawn Palms Cemetery. The family will receive friends beginning at 8:30am Friday, September 6th at the funeral home.