Glenn Y. Johnson

He was born on November 30, 1928 to Carl and Elva Johnson on a farm outside Shallowater, TX, but he was not a “country boy.” He had one pair of cowboy boots in his whole life and he only got to wear them a short while because the toe box got squashed the same week he got them. When he wasn’t doing chores around home, he played tennis and basketball in high school and continued basketball and racquetball on rec teams until his knees forced him to stop in his 60’s. His love of basketball carried through his life as he remained a lifelong Red Raider basketball fan long after he stopped playing.

Glenn attended Texas Tech University and since he didn’t have a car, had to hitchhike daily into Lubbock to get to his classes. He was usually fortunate enough to grab a ride with a neighbor from Shallowater on their way to Lubbock. He worked for the Highway Department while attending Tech and continued to work there after he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering on May 26, 1952.

Glenn found his greatest love in 1953 when he met his future bride Joy, who just happened to be his sister’s roommate. They were married on October 28, 1954 and shared a happy life together for 67 years. They were blessed to raise 4 children – Sandy (Fritz) Scharrer, Steve (Brenda) Johnson, Jan Johnson and Linda (Chris) Anderson.

Glenn began his career at the Texas Highway Department as a supervisor in charge of road work crews, but most of his years were spent as a Senior Planning Engineer. His last job was purchasing the Right of Way for the future I-27 and Marsha Sharp Freeway through Lubbock. When he completed that task, he was very happy to retire in September, 1993. Even after he retired, he was proud to drive his grandkids around Lubbock pointing out the roads he had helped to build during his career.

Life is a career bookended by the carefree days of youth and the carefree days of retirement. One day Glenn was tickled to share with his family that he had surpassed his years of youth compared to his years of retirement, and boy he lived up those final carefree years! The first week after retirement he decided it was time to get his first computer after having never used one. That was quite an adventure! Glenn & Joy went on numerous cruises, driving trips and vacations to spend time with family and to visit all over the United States. His hobbies also included playing the stock market and silver commodities. He was an avid reader and checked out books weekly from the library, planted gardens and visited grandchildren as often as possible.

Family and God were his center. Glenn’s time at Vandelia Church of Christ was a huge part of his life for more than 50 years. During those years he served as deacon, teacher and small group leader, but his greatest passion was his time serving as elder. He said countless prayers and shed many tears as he determined how the Lord would lead him to guide the flock at Vandelia. He raised all four of his kids under that church’s roof, which provided a solid foundation that has caried them throughout their lives

Glenn’s twinkling eyes were a known trait by all who loved him, but nothing could make them shine brighter than teasing his wife, who always met his eyes with her own signature scoff. They had a marriage that served as a testimony to true love and the importance of God, laughter and always holding hands. He looked forward with glee to the time he would be reunited with his love and hold her hand again.

He was greeted in heaven by his wife Joy, his parents Elva and Carl Johnson, siblings Dale Johnson, Ione Crush, Don Johnson and his granddaughter, Kristene Blanco. He is survived by his children Sandy (Fritz) Scharrer, Steve (Brenda) Johnson, Jan Johnson, and Linda (Chris) Anderson; his grandchildren Tommy (Vanessa) Johnson, Lauren (Matthew) Skelton, Cheyenne Johnson and Sierra, Makaylee and Lillie Anderson; his great grandchildren Abby Blanco, Malcolm and Lyla Johnson and Owen and Nora (coming soon) Skelton.

If you asked Glenn, he would say, “I was just lucky.” Like the cowboy riding off in the sunset, Glenn will be missed but never forgotten. His presence lives on in all who were blessed enough to know him, love him and be loved by him.

We will celebrate Glenn’s life on June 10th at 2:00pm in the Chapel at Broadway Church of Christ (1924 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79401). If you would like to visit with the family, visitation will be on June 9th, 6:00 – 8:00pm in the Resthaven Chapel (5740 W 19th Street, Lubbock TX 79407).

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:

Lubbock Children’s Home https://childshome.org/

Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch https://www.calfarley.org