William Emory Glover

William Emory Glover of Houston, Texas went to be with our Lord on Friday, June 21, 2024 at the age of 83. He was born in Beaumont, Texas on August 27,1940 where his parents, William Emory Glover, Sr., and Mary Wood Harrington Glover who had moved from Marianna, Arkansas to Houston, Texas for his father's work in insurance. Soon after, his parents moved they built a home in West University Place, and six years later his baby sister, Mary Harrington Glover, was born. At the early age of 9, Emory lost his father, who died in his sleep of a heart attack, and he, his mother and sister (age 3 yrs) remained in Marianna, Ark., where his mom had grown up, and they lived there with his grandmother, Mary Weatherford Jones Harrington. He attended school in Marianna, while his mother rented their new home in Houston. When Emory was about 12, they moved home to Houston to the home his parents had built, and Emory began attending Pershing Jr. High School, and later Bellaire Sr. High School, graduating in its 1st graduating class.

Emory attended Austin College in Sherman, Texas, graduating in 1962 with a BA degree in Philosophy and Religion. There he pledged the Sigma Tau Epsilon fraternity and joined the A Capella Choir where he met his future bride, Emily Rose Lawhead from Dallas, TX. Emory also was involved at AC in drama and theater and received a BA degree in Philosophy and Religion. He then attended Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, where he received a Master of Divinity. His first pastorate was in Greensboro, NC, serving as a youth minister for several years and also a youth pastor at St. Andrews Presbyterian in Beaumont, Texas. He was then called to the Harlandate Presbyterian Church in San Antonio, Tx., where he served as Sr. Pastor. Following his time there, he received a call from First Presbyterian Church of Brazoria, Tx, where he and his sweetheart, Emily Rose Lawhead from Austin College, got married on February 14, 1970. He later served as pastor of Church of the Way Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge, LA. His wife Emily was an accomplished musician, singer and former member of the A Capella Choir at Austin College. She predeceased Emory, dying in 2006 in Houston, where she served as Choir Director of Pines Presbyterian Church, Houston. After many years in the ministry, Emory returned to his hometown of Houston, in order to help his mother, who founded her own company, Mary Wood Glover Realtors, as she was experiencing health issues. He and sister Mary G. Rustay worked with his mother as Broker Associates until his mother's death in 1991.

Emory was a man of many talents and interests. He loved being a Presbyterian minister, and also acting in and directing theatrical productions wherever he lived-often in the churches he served. He worked with the A.D. Players in Houston with Jeanette Clift George, and traveled throughout Europe, the British Isles, the Middle East, and Russia with his wife, making friends throughout his travels with the Austin College A Capella Choir. His life was a blessing to all who knew him. Emory was a passionate photographer, musician, traveler, jazz enthusiast, and collector of classical, early jazz, vocal, and instrumental music. He collected hundreds of record albums and books of all genres which he treasured and shared with friends and family.

He is survived by his sister Mary Harrington, Glover Rustay, and her husband George Allen Rustay, who he married on September 14,1968 at First Presbyterian Church, Houston. He is also survived by Mary and George's 4 children and 5 grandchildren: Allen Harrington Rustay and his wife Jenn; their children Grace and Alexander Rustay; George Wood Rustay and wife Eileen; Marianna Elisabeth Rustay King and son, Sean; Mary Jennifer Rustay Kuck, her husband Chad, and their children Charlotte and Christian; his sister-in-law Charlene Wahrmund, her husband Barry, and their daughter Lisa Rose.

The family wishes to thank all Emory's friends and relatives who came to Bayou Tower at Bayou Manor to befriend Emory over his years living there, especially in his time of need and declining health. Their love and loyalty and compassion will always be remembered and appreciated by all of us.

Family and friends are invited join the Celebration of Life and Memorial Service in honor of our dearest brother, William Emory Glover, on Thursday, August 8th, 2024 at 2PM, at First Presbyterian Church in the Sanctuary, 5300 Main St., Houston 77006, and to the reception following in the church Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in his honor to First Presbyterian Church, Houston or Austin College.