He attended Robert E. Lee High School and enlisted in the U. S. Army Air Corps at age 17, where he was certified as a pilot and was stationed in England and France. After his honorable discharge, he received a scholarship from Schreiner Junior College in Kerrville, where he played football with two of his brothers. He then finished his education at The University of Houston, where he received a B. S. degree.
He was a member of Cedar Bayou Grace United Methodist Church, Cedar Bayou Masonic Lodge #321, the York Rite, and the Baytown Shrine Club. In 1967 he was appointed to the Coastal Water Authority Board to represent Chambers County by Governor John Connally and was reappointed by subsequent Governors thereafter, where he served for 28 ½ years. He was also a board member of the Baytown/West Chambers County Economic Development Foundation, the Texas Veterans Land Board, and Citizens Bank of Texas, where he was also a stockholder. Of all of his associations though, he was most proud of his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred C. Jennings and Willie Mae Cooley Jennings; wife of 51 years, Rosemary Fisher Jennings; infant daughter, Glenda Ann Jennings; 3 brothers; and 1 sister. He is survived by his wife of 10 years, Dolores Burnett Smith Jennings; son, Johnnie Glenn Jennings, Jr., and wife, Connie; brother, Gene C. Jennings and wife, Evelyn; grandsons, Johnnie Glenn Jennings, III and wife, Brittany and Edmund Lee Jennings and wife, Jessica; great grandchildren, Jagger Giles Jennings and Julianna Grace Jennings; stepson, David Ray Smith and wife, Laura; stepdaughter, Julie Taylor and husband, Andrew; step grandchildren, Kristen Verbeck, Kelsey Smith, Austin Taylor, and Hannah Taylor; and several nieces and nephews.
His family will receive friends at Navarre Funeral Home Sunday from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Funeral services will be Monday, August 16, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at Cedar Bayou Grace United Methodist Church, 2714 Ferry Rd., Baytown, TX 77521 with Rev. Carol Turner, Dr. Jim Jackson, and Father Nicholas C. Antel officiating. Burial with Masonic rites will follow at the Cedar Bayou United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers will be Jimmy Sylvia, Gary Nelson, Chance Angel, Greg Wallace, Tim Hazelwood, Phil Dutton, Bart Jennings, and Reggie Brewer. Honorary pallbearers will be Dennis Jennings, Boots Nelson, and the men's Sunday school class at Cedar Bayou Grace United Methodist Church.
In lieu of usual remembrances, contributions may be made to the Cedar Bayou Grace United Methodist Church New Sanctuary Building Fund.
""Believers who serve God by living righteous, God fearing lives are blessed…and they are a blessing to others.""
To view the online obituary or to post a tribute for the family, go to www.navarrefuneralhome.com
Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Dr., Baytown, TX, 77521 (281) 422-8111.
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