Glenda Ruth Rhyne

Glenda was born in Brookhaven, Mississippi, on October 5, 1935. Her mother, Mabel Fender Pevey, taught her to believe in education, which Glenda held as a foundation of her life. She earned a degree in Speech and English from Mississippi University for Women and a Master’s degree in English Literature from the College of William and Mary, and taught high school in Texas, Virginia and Georgia. She served on the faculties of Texas A&M, Georgia State University and Mississippi University for Women, and was named to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities and the inaugural Leadership Texas group.

She married Tom Rhyne June 4, 1961, and spent more than 57 years enjoying and loving “the best choice of her life.” They spent their early married years in Mississippi, Virginia and Georgia, before settling in College Station, where they joined First Baptist Church and formed a community of dear and lifelong friends. They had their two children there before moving to Austin in 1984.

Glenda was a devoted community volunteer. She served on the boards of People’s Community Clinic, South Austin Hospital, Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center, League of Women Voters and Brazos Valley Mental Health Association. In College Station, she also created and hosted a local television show about people in the community, “A Face in the Crowd.” She authored a free booklet to educate parents about the college admission process, having spent a year as a college admissions counselor and working with the Guidance Committee at Westlake High School. She was always a dedicated church member, leading the youth department, teaching Sunday school, or singing in the choir. In her youth, she was known for a comedic after-dinner speech, which won various college forensic speech contests.

Her family remembers her smile and wit, her devotion to each of us, her advice, her complete generosity, her impeccable hospitality, her sense of style and décor, her intelligence and her warmth. She always enjoyed the movie masterpieces, historical fiction, writing, giving charades parties and “trying to be of use.” She was full of life and information and faith and always had a minute for anyone who needed her. She made any community she joined better. She filled her family and friends with the best cookies, pies, cakes and treats, which we all know make life a little sweeter.

She is survived by her cherished husband Tom, daughter Amber Rhyne Compton and husband Clint, son Vernon Thomas Rhyne IV, and grandsons Truett and Tate Compton, who were the delight of her old age and grateful recipients of many of her treats.

She wanted her epitaph to be, “Everyone was always so good to me!”

Heartfelt thanks to Home Instead, Resolutions Hospice, everyone on Horse Mountain Cove, the Cowden Sunday School class at Riverbend, and the friends far and wide who made her life so good. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests you consider a donation to Children at Heart Ministries of Round Rock, Texas, at cahm.org.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenchapelofthehills.com for the Rhyne family.