Edward Glenn Burroughs

Edward Glenn Burroughs was born September 10, 1943, in Trenton, NJ, the only child of Edward Reeger Burroughs and Ellen Evans Blair Burroughs. Glenn grew up building things. When it was time for college, his dad said, “Be an engineer. That’s how your head works.” Off he went to Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA, and got bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering. Drexel, being a co-op school, meant you spent 6 months on campus and 6 months on the job. Glenn’s co-op was with NASA from 1962-1968. He was part of the R&D group that worked on Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and the beginning of the Space Shuttle. Among his projects were parachute design, soil studies to determine the appropriate landing site for the Apollo 11 moon landing, and the robot arm for the shuttle. Plant design and sound reduction followed at Uncle Ben’s from 1972-1979. The oil patch beckoned Glenn next and he ended up at Baker Hughes as the test facilities manager where he finished out his fifty-one-year engineering career. “Shake and bake” is how he described his work – vibration control for computers that follow the oil drill string downhole. He held a patent for cushioning design.

Glenn married his college sweetheart, Katherine Mary Buehler in 1968. Susanne Kay was born in 1977. Kathy died in 1988. Two years later, Susie suggested that her dad might take out Miss Dorothy Pralle, her band director. Three weeks after their official “first date,” they were engaged, and then married March 16, 1991. Julia Joy was born in 1995. Glenn loved his girls and always put family first.

Canoes, sailboats, and camping provided early delight in exploring the Eastern United States. Woodworking, metalworking, and fine craftsmanship filled his garage workshop. Many summers were spent repairing cases and percussion equipment for the Lutheran High North Instrumental Music Program. A love of science fiction stories was made into real life adventures working at NASA. From the moon to the depths of the earth, Glenn designed and built many firsts of their kind.

Some Glenn-isms:

• Do the right thing and do the thing right.

• Connect folks

• Never underestimate the power of a good bad example.

• KISS – Keep it simple, stupid!

• Provide for family – safety, support, love

Glenn died June 14, 2024, at the age of 80, following a twelve-year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was lovingly cared for by the staff at Fairbanks Court Assisted Living for the last two years. Glenn is survived by his wife, Dorothy Pralle Burroughs, his daughter Susanne Kay Burroughs, grandson Django Desmond Perez, and daughter Julia Joy Henricks, and her husband Wayne Henricks.

The Memorial Service will be held Thursday, June 20, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 800 Houston Ave., Houston, TX 77007. A luncheon will follow. Memorials can be given to the Trinity Lutheran Church Organ Fund or have a lovely event out with your family in his name. There will be an option to watch via a livestream: https://www.youtube.com/live/vKxlrVs6BTk