Obituary of Stephenson Jr., Glenn Leroy

It’s not possible to become friends with every person we meet during a life but everyone who met Glenn L. Stephenson Jr. felt like they could be his friend. He had a warmth and openness that’s rare. We also loved him for his humor, kindness, care for others, love for family, and moral integrity. Glenn was born in Enid, Oklahoma on April 30, 1936 and died on November 27, 2019. At Central High School in Oklahoma City, he was president of the student body and was elected Governor of Oklahoma for a day by the high school students of Oklahoma City. As a member of the debate team, he won state honors in speech and represented his school at Oklahoma Boys State. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma, where he played baseball for three years, Glenn served in the Army from 1958-60. He also was vice president of his fraternity, Kappa Alpha. He then moved to Dallas and worked for Remington Rand and Xerox for 17 years. Afterwards, he managed investments and was a real estate owner in Dallas. Glenn was a born salesman, earning eight national sales awards, including recognition as the national salesman of the year (anyone who knew Glenn vocationally will not be surprised to know that in his final hours he was talking up hot deals in his sleep). Glenn was a lifelong learner and avidly embraced digital photography to continue pursuing his passion for capturing the moments in nature he loved to witness. He was known to tote a 30lb pack of lenses as he traveled with his wife Karen to national parks, humbled by the beauty of the land. He embraced life with the vigor of a much younger man. Glenn enjoyed giving back to the city that had embraced him; he served on the board of directors of the Tartan Golf Classic of the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children for 30 years. He served for six years on the Child & Family Guidance Center board and was its president for two years. Coon Creek Club, near Athens, was a second home to him and his family. He loved serving as the chairman of the Fish Committee and instituted a tradition inviting children who were patients at Scottish Rite to fish at Coon Creek. He believed in living with purpose, hands-on helping of others, and improving the welfare and happiness of children in need. There were few things Glenn loved more than tutoring his children and grandchildren in the unknowable mysteries of removing scaly beasts from the aqueous depths via a thin stick and tiny hook. He was a proud member of Highland Park Presbyterian Church and the John McCoy Bible Study group. He loved playing golf at Brookhollow Country Club, where he was a member for many years; he was also a 32nd Degree Mason at Scottish Rite. Glenn is predeceased by Glenn Carter Stephenson, the son he had with his first wife, Betty Walker Creech; by his parents, Glenn L. and Cletith Stephenson; and by his brother, Dr. Gary Stephenson; and his black lab Digger and his white-with-red-interior Porsche Speedster. He is survived by his wife, Karen Stephenson; his children, Elizabeth Wells Clark, and her husband, Trenten, and their daughter, Soleia; son John and his wife Betsy and their children Tessa and Walker; son Hunter; and stepchildren Clay Smith and his husband, Tomás Rivera, and Courtney Childers and her husband Jake and their children, Reid and Andrew. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and brothers- and sisters-in-law, all of whom he loved dearly. A memorial service will be held December 12 at 3:30 pm at Highland Park Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Dr. Kenneth Werlein officiating with Rev. Dr. Nelson Bell and Dr. Charles Webb as organist. Complimentary valet parking available. If you are interested in memorializing Glenn’s life, his family asks that you consider donating to Highland Park Presbyterian Church or to the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Please leave the family condolences and share memories on this website.