William Hayden Glenn

William Hayden “Bill” Glenn, 64, passed away peacefully on a beautiful Monday morning, August 3, 2020 in Asheville, NC. He was born on February 4, 1956 in Marietta, GA to Mississippi native parents Jane and Hayden Glenn and was the second oldest of four. They lived in Georgia and Florida before settling in Huntsville, AL on Monte Sano Mountain. The family belonged to Monte Sano United Methodist Church. He graduated from Huntsville High School and went on to obtain a Bachelors of Science in agriculture and soil science at the University of Tennessee. At Tennessee, he marched tuba in the Pride of the Southland band and played in the basketball pep bands. In the summer of 1979, he met the love of his life, Julie, in the home goods aisle of Hill’s Department Store over air freshener and jock straps. They married on April 3, 1982 in Knoxville, TN and proceeded to have adventures all over the South. Their only child, Amanda Ruth, was born in September of the next year. The Glenns settled in the mountains of North Carolina in 1991. Bill’s work passion was farming and nurseries, culminating in a 23-year long career with the Asheville office of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as the expert on Christmas trees and ornamental nursery crops. He could tell you exactly what to plant, where to plant it, and how to make it flourish. He was also very passionate about collegiate sports, especially his alma mater Tennessee. He drove the equipment truck for his daughter’s high school band and loved watching or listening to games. His love and knowledge of music was widespread, from classic rock to bluegrass to gospel and everything in between. He was also passionate about local and regional history and could lecture on those topics akin to a college professor. Bill was equal parts smart and smarty pants and we will miss his wit, laugh, and love the most. Bill joins his mother, Jane, his aunt Georgia Taylor, his uncle Robert Taylor, and mother-in-law Patricia Briggs Deal in heaven watching over all of us. He is survived by his beautiful wife of 38 years Julie Glenn of Candler, NC; his daughter and son-in-law Amanda Glenn-Bradley and John Bradley of Candler, NC; father Hayden Glenn of Huntsville, AL; brother Ed Glenn (Ralene) of Helena, MT; brother Tommy Glenn (Barbara) of Huntsville, AL; sister Alice Glenn Kirsch (Steven) of Huntsville, AL; best friend and first cousin Bobby Taylor of Crawford, MS; father-in-law Roy Deal of Rockwood, TN; brother-in-law Rusty Deal (Gidget) of Knoxville, TN; sister-in-law Rosemary Deal Owens of Knoxville, TN; nieces and nephews Stacey Broadway (Greg), Britt Glenn, Ame Deal, Johanna Kirsch Wilson (Matthew), Will Glenn, Molly Kirsch, Travis Glenn, Elizabeth Kirsch, Dakota Whitaker (Sarah), Matthew Howell, Lilly Deal, and Luke Deal; great-nieces Alexandra Mynatt, Antonia Wilson, Martha Wilson, and James Whitaker; cousins Gale Hagood, Robbie Taylor (Kristy), Bebe Taylor Willcutt, Keelyn Ware (Nancy), Brooks Taylor, Kate Taylor, Neil Taylor, William Willcutt, James Taylor; dear friend Tommy Speight; countless other friends and family, a community of colleagues and farmers all over the country, and his “bestest” brown dog Roscoe. A public memorial service will occur after COVID-19 is a thing of the past. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you visit a local garden center or farmer, pick out something beautiful for your own place, and send us pictures. The more unusual the cultivar, the better! A scholarship fund is in the works; details to follow at a later date. Our family would like to thank the staff of Messino Cancer Center; 9 North at Mission Hospital, especially Hannah, Roberta, Leslie, Pam, Beth, Mara, and Shannon; and John F. Keever Solace Center, especially Mindy, Marianne, Kristie, and Brian, for their care and support over the past few months. To honor Bill’s memory, wear orange, listen to rock music turned all the way up, and as Warren Zevon said, enjoy every sandwich.

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