Ben Morel Glass
Ben Morel Glass passed away peacefully on April 26, 2021, at the age of 90.
He was born September 21, 1930, at his parent’s East Texas country home in the Smyrna community outside of Atlanta, Texas.
Ben graduated from Atlanta High School in 1948 and went on to attend East Texas Baptist College in Marshall, Texas for two years. He then transferred to the University of Texas in
Austin where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education in 1953 and a Master’s in Educational Administration in 1958.
He met his wife, Elizabeth “Liz” Merchant Glass, through the Baptist Student Union while attending the University of Texas. They married on August 2, 1953, and were married 67 years. In 1955, they moved to Odessa, Texas where Ben taught and coached for many years. He also obtained his real estate license, worked in building construction, and did contractor work. As an avid craftsman, he was always building, repairing, or creating things.
In 1999, after 43 years in Odessa, they moved to Highland Village, Texas for retirement. In 2019, they moved into Lewisville Estates Senior Living and in 2020 moved into Anthology Assisted Living in Plano.
Ben was a member of the Texas National Guard for 10 years. He was ordained a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Odessa in 1965; he served there and at First Baptist Lewisville as deacon until 2018 when he was honored and “retired” from that position. For over 60 years he loved to sing in church choirs and continued to do so until age 89. At First Baptist Lewisville, he was president and vice president of the senior adult group, taught Sunday School, and served on several committees.
Even in retirement, he was an active volunteer in constructing homes, missions, and churches. He served with the Texas Baptist Men and was an active member of the Lewisville area Retired Teachers Association.
Ben was a churchman. In his words, “He loved Jesus, his family, his church, and his friends and he plans to meet them in heaven one day.”
He is preceded in death by his parents Chester and Mary Ann Glass and his four siblings: Millard Glass, Freda Cross, Sara Dell, and Marguerite Ratcliff, as well as niece Beverly Stuckey.
He is survived by his wife Liz Glass, son Thomas “Tom” Glass (wife Kathie), son David Glass (wife Bette), and daughter Carol Slover (husband David Slover). He is also survived by his six grandchildren: Courtney Glass, Branden Glass, Seth Slover (wife Berkley), Sarah Slover Brown (husband Morgun), Hannah Glass, Samuel Glass, and great granddaughter Kathryn “Katie” Maddux. He is also survived by other family members: Lee Cross, Debra Mc-Creery, Mary Ann Galloupe, Gerri Bergt, Marilyn Dell, Ron Stuckey, and many other relations in Cass County.
A celebration of life was held Friday, April 30, at First Baptist Church in Lewisville, Texas. Burial was at the Smyrna Cemetery in Cass County on April 29.
Anyone wishing to honor Ben’s life can make a gift in his memory to Texas Baptist Men or Samaritan’s Purse.