The Reverend Glenn Edgar Ailshie, 79, of Marion, SC, passed away Thursday at Carolinas Hospital in Florence, SC. He was the pastor of Christian Faith Baptist Church in Marion, SC where he preached for 33 years and retired President of SoPakCo.
He was a graduate of McDonald High School and attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and Tusculum University. He graduated with a diploma in Pastoral Ministry through the Seminary Extension Program in 1980.
He was called to preach in 1970 and was later ordained by Rev. Marvin L. Silver at Concord Baptist Church on March 14, 1971. He became the pastor of Mountain View Baptist Church in Greeneville, TN in 1971. After moving to Mullins, SC, he became the pastor of Woodlawn Park Baptist Church from 1971-1973 and 1973-1985. He returned to the McDonald Community in TN and became the interim pastor of Concord Baptist Church in 1973. He was a bi-vocational Southern Baptist minister for over 47 years. He served as a President of the National and South Carolina Bi-Vocational Minister’s Association. He also served on the General Board of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
He was previously employed by American Enka and Austin Tobacco Company. While employed at Austin Tobacco Company, he became affiliated with SoPakCo where he worked until his retirement in 1994. He served on the Advisory Committee of Food Packaging Board at Clemson University for nine years. He also received an Honorary Doctorate of Foodservice from the National Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers in 1991. He was awarded the Patriotic Civilian Service Award by the US Army in 1992 which was one of the highest awards given to a civilian by the US Army. In addition to being a pastor and working full time he enjoyed spending time on his farm in the McDonald Community. Due to his employment at SoPakCo, he relocated to South Carolina. After his retirement from SoPakCo, he purchased Heartland Bread Company which he owned and operated for several years. He also loved UT Vols football and basketball, antique cars, guns, golf and collecting model tractors.
He married the love of his life and high school sweetheart Betty Jean Hartman Ailshie to whom he was married for over 60 years. He is survived by his wife, Betty and children: Dr. Lyle Ailshie and wife Vanessa of Kingsport, TN; Lee Ailshie, JD of Charleston, SC; Lynne Styke and husband John of Mohawk, TN; Dr. Lana Cook and husband Brian of Greeneville, TN; Lori Garris and husband Eric of Marion, SC and Lance Ailshie of Columbia, SC. His grandchildren are: Dr. Tracie Neas and husband Tyler of Greeneville, TN; Hilary Wolfe and husband Andrew of DeRidder, LA; Karli Ailshie of Kingsport, TN; Katie Boslooper and husband Dalton of Greeneville, TN; Kellie Styke of Mohawk, TN; Wyatt Cook and Lindsey Cook of Greeneville, TN; Lauren Garris, Connor Garris and Bryce Garris of Marion, SC and Eli Ailshie of Columbia, SC; His great-grandchildren are: Harper Neas and Ainsley Neas of Greeneville, TN and Tucker Wolfe of DeRidder, LA. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law George and Marie Ailshie of Newport, TN; brother Harry Ailshie of Morristown, TN; sister Billie Jo Hazelwood and husband Ivan of Morristown, TN; sister Launa Lyle of Jefferson City, TN and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents James and Dussie Ailshie, brothers James Lee Ailshie and Scott Anthony Ailshie and grandparents Stephen “Alex” and Mary Ailshie and George and Carrie Rader.
Pallbearers will be sons, sons-in-law, Bob Kesterson and Brian Kesterson. Honorary pallbearers will be Jeremy Pitts, Ian Shaun Smith, Tom Solomon, Larry H. Jones, and the McDonald High School Class of 1957.
Visitation will be at Concord Baptist Church in Mohawk on August 14 from 2:30 – 4:30 PM with interment to follow at Bible’s Cemetery.
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