San Jose

Kenneth Andrew Glass jitterbugged his way off the dance floor of life onDecember 11, 2024 at the age of 96. He was born on October 24,1928, in Jamestown, NC, but you wouldn’t have guessed it from his perfectly coiffed hair, which he always kept tidy with a nearby comb. One of his greatest achievements in his life was his 73 years of marriage to his sweetheart, Mary Lou Glass, and their rambunctious house full of sons Jerry H Glass. Joseph P Glass (deceased), and Richard A Glass on Fleming Avenue. Together, he, Mary, and the boys made a million memories together which they re-lived over the years as the family grew to include four grandchildren Amberley, Sarah, Rachel and Kenneth and 10 great grandchildren.

Ken hardly could have imagined his life from the front end. He grew upthe youngest of four on the other side of the country in a small town, and the military was his ticket out. He joined the United States Coast Guard afew days shy of his 17th birthday and served honorably at sea and in the air for 8years. He served all over—on the East Coast and later in the Pacific at Midway and Guam. Lucky for him, while stationed in San Francisco he met Mary Lou, and a little over a year later, they said I do. They moved toSan Jose in 1954 and embraced the life God planned for them, designed and built the house that they lived in for over 60 years.

Ken was one of those guys who worked hard, and so it was that in spite of a rather average high school career punctuated by the occasional mischief, his desire to make a good life for his family motivated him to graduate from San Jose State in only three years. He went to work for IBM and he stayed there for 30 years retiring in 1987.

Little did he know, the fun was just beginning! In retirement, Ken made sure to do the things that brought him and Mary joy-- he spent several decades traveling the world with Mary Lou, hosting pool parties, water-skiing, blasting big band music, working out at the YMCA, drinking coffee with his friends at the Coffee Club on Mc- Kee Avenue, and having agrand old time. He was here so long, we can’t imagine life without him. But we will keep on dancing, because that’s what he would have wanted.

A memorial service is Friday, January 3rd at 11am at Life Valley Community Church located at 2827 Flint Ave., San Jose, CA 95148