Glenn Wilber Lawrence

He was born February 8, 1928, in Glenwood Iowa, to William Robert Lawrence, and Bertha Helen Nichols Lawrence, fourth of their six children. His father moved with the family to Saint louis, Missouri, when Glenn was about one year old. He attended public schools, graduating Normandy High School, then enlisting in the United States Marine Corps, serving just under two years at the end of World War II, Receiving four decorations.* After honorable discharge, working in an orphans’ home in St. louis, and completing studies for license to preach in The Methodist Church, beginning a pastorate in Amazonia, Missouri, serving until enrolling in Central College** in 1948, and beginning his second pastorate, as a ministerial student, at Clark, Missouri, and New Hope, an open country church, until beginning graduate study in The Iliff School of Theology in Denver, serving as pastor of Hudson Methodist Church, then as assistant to the pastor of The Methodist Church in Longmont Colorado.

He married Mary Ellen Rutherford, of Maysville, Missouri, January 29, 1950. Two children were born to them: Judith Anna, October 25, 1957, and Paul Wesley, July 12, 1967. They met in college.

Glenn continued to serve as pastor of churches in Pueblo, Colorado, at Northern Avenue Methodist Church 1955-1958, Palisade, Colorado (1958-1962), Bethany Methodist Church in Denver (1962-1969), Trinity United Methodist Church in Pueblo, Colorado and Edison-Leder, a country church (1969-1971), United Methodist Churches in Mancos and Dolores, Colorado (1971-1975), Cheyenne Wells and Kit Carson (1975-1978), United Methodist Church of Brush, Colorado (1978-1988), United Methodist Church of Peetz, Colorado (1990-1992) retiring in 1992. Serving by filling in as needed for churches of various denominations mostly in northeastern Colorado in retirement. He was called upon to fill in temporarily in Immanuel Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Brush, where he had filled in at times. He was asked to become interim pastor, which he did; then was asked to become installed pastor. After completing requirements for dual standing, to be recognized as clergy in both denominations, he was installed and served until 2001, when health problems prevented continued effective service.

Glenn remained an active member of the clergy in many respects, serving church and community. He was a long-time active member of Brush Ministerial Association, holding offices, serving as chaplain to Brush Police Department from the inception of that program, retiring in 2009. He was board member and chair of Meals and Friendship of Morgan County many years, member and chair of Morgan County Social Services Advisory Committee many years, member and chair of Colorado State Social Services Advisory Committee many years. In the Colorado Conference and Rocky Mountain Conference of United Methodist Church he served in many capacities, including member and chair of a number of boards and committees, including chair of Board of Christian Social Concerns, member of Commission on Equitable Salaries, and Trustee of the Conference.

For many years he was active in councils, including Denver Area Council of Churches, Pueblo Council of Churches, Colorado Council of Churches, holding offices in each; member and president of Denver Area Methodist Ministers’ Association, organizing director of Methodist Ministers Credit Union, organizing director of Rocky Mountain Memorial Society, organizer and president of Ministers’ Rocky Mountain Climbing Society. He served on the Methodist Annual Conference Commission on Christian Social Concerns and became chair, was a trustee of the conference, and held other conference positions over a period of many years.

He served as member of Morgan County Social Services Advisory Committee and became chairman. He was member of State of Colorado Social Services Advisory Committee and became chairman. He was member of the Board of Meals and Friendship of Morgan County, and became chairman. He was member of the board of Caring Ministries of Morgan County and became its chairman, succeeding the late Irving Heath in that position.

Glenn was divorced in January of 1971.

He married Claire Louise McLagan Lynch, July 4, 1986, in the United Methodist Church of Brush, where he was pastor, and she was organist. Their children were then adults and served as their attendants.

Preceding him in death were his parents, sisters Susan, Laura Lee (Mrs. Spencer E. Jones Jr.), Edith Fern (Mrs. Ben Bohnenkamp), Betty Zelpha (Mrs. H. Byron Hatfield), brother David Max Lawrence, and stepson John Willard Lynch, and wife Claire.

Survivors include children Judith, Paul, of Denver, stepdaughters, Joan Lynch Fallon of Broomfield, Colorado, and Jane (Mrs. John Steiner) of Denver and Buena Vista, Colorado, grandchildren Kief and Keeley Lawrence, step-great-granddaughter Harper Clair Bacon, nephews and nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces.

Glenn’s interests and activities included scouting, sail boating, photography—he was professional for several years and in a business partnership— also hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, gardening, collecting, and investing. He enjoyed music, and had organized and sung in male quartets. He always enjoyed a variety of activities, including swimming, and water sports. He was a Red Cross Water Safety Instructor for many years. He had been a truck and bus driver, liked to operate machinery and was fascinated with gadgets. Having a broad range of interests, he read widely, and was able to converse intelligently on a variety of topics.

He and Claire shared a love of music, and they enjoyed world travel.

Glenn was an excellent rifleman, putting the skill to good use not only militarily, but also hunting, including big game, which helped feed the family in his younger years.

Memorial Service will be November 10, 2024.

Footnotes:

Glenn graduated Normandy High School in June, 1946

Degrees: Bachelor of Arts, 1952, Central College, now Central Methodist University, Fayette, Missouri; Master of Theology, 1955, The Iliff School of Theology, Denver

Enlisted U.S. Marine Corps June of 1946, honorable discharged in early 1948; (see discharge papers for details). Enlistment was shortened by an AllMar order (Reduction in Force) applying to all who had enlisted to serve at the end of the war.

*Sharpshooter, Presidential Unit Citation, World War II Victory medal, theater of operations ribbon

**Now Central Methodist University

Served on two fire departments, was a first responder, did emergency response and rescue.

Enjoyed swimming and watersports, was a swimmer, life guard, and Red Cross Water Safety Instructor.