Glenda Chittenden died on July 21, 2018, at the age of 81, following a sudden illness. She was surrounded by family and parted with a smile on her face as she was greeted by her Lord and Savior and possibly even her beloved Scottish terrier, “Duffy.”
Glenda was born October 10, 1936, in Longmont, Colorado, to Glenn and Minnie Nelson. She grew up on a farm near Erie and Longmont where she was a member of Luther League, Rainbow Girls, and 4-H. Glenda could still recite the 4-H pledge and proudly did so to anyone who would listen. It was an ideal place to live with many picnics and hikes in the nearby Rocky Mountains. One of her favorite spots was Estes Park, a location she and family traveled to many times after she moved away from Colorado. She graduated from Longmont High School and the University of Colorado in Boulder. At CU, she was a member of Chi Omega Sorority and received a degree in Business Finance.
Glenda met her husband, Richard Chittenden (“Rich”), when both were working in Los Angeles. He was a civil engineer and after they married, they lived several places in California. Son, David, was born when they lived in Orange, and daughter, Caryn, was born in Ventura. Ventura proved to be the perfect place to raise their family, where they bought and lived in their first and only house for over 47 years.
Glenda’s love of numbers led her to work for H&R Block. She then took that knowledge and opened her own business, becoming an Enrolled Agent with the IRS and prepared tax returns for nearly 30 years. Glenda also had a hard time saying “no” to volunteer requests. She became treasurer of every organization to which she belonged, the offering tabulator at her church as well as PTA president and part-time librarian at Loma Vista Elementary School while her children attended. She was also scorekeeper for many of her grandson, Zane’s, little league baseball teams.
With Rich’s help, she learned to play golf and loved playing the game. Glenda belonged to the women’s clubs at Buenaventura and Soule Park and was an officer in the WPLGA for 9 years. She had a hole in one twice and played golf (sometimes with daughter Caryn) on many premier courses. Highlights: Playing in Australia with kangaroos as spectators and in Scotland at Saint Andrews.
Glenda also loved playing bridge and had many close friends from that game. She played with one group of ladies for over 30 years. And she enjoyed sewing, both machine sewing as well as knitting. Glenda passed that love of sewing down to her daughter, who ultimately became an interior designer as a result. All of Glenda’s family members also have beautifully knitted scarves and hats for when cold weather strikes.
When Glenda’s daughter chose to go to college in Virginia and live in Charlotte, NC, she became the ultimate care package sender. Her daughter and then her grandchildren loved opening her boxes on birthdays, holidays and anniversaries. There was always at least one book in each package, and she successfully passed down her love of reading to her grandchildren. While baked goods would make it into the packages at times, making Christmas cookies with her granddaughter, Samantha, for the last 23 years was a cherished time for Glenda.
She is survived by her son, David and wife, Suzanne, grandchildren, Samantha, Zane and Rowen; her daughter, Caryn and husband Rob Craige, grandchildren, Connor and Sarah; and her brother, Harold Nelson and his wife, Diane, of Longmont.
A drop-in reception honoring Glenda will be held on Saturday, September 22, 2018 from 2:00 - 3:00 P.M. in the Fellowship Hall of Trinity Lutheran Church, 196 North Ashwood Avenue, Ventura, CA. A private family service for the inurnment will precede the reception.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Condolences may be sent to TedMayrFuneralHome.com.
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