I got a call today from Dick McDonald who is in the above picture along with Glenn Carl, Jerry Ammann and myself. This was taken a few years ago when Glenn visited our area and we had breakfast together with our wives. The four guys have worked together at State Farm Insurance and all retired with many years of service. Glenn had just turned 80 years old in February.
Glenn Carl passed away Wednesday in his home in Palmyra, Pennsylvania. Glenn and Mary moved there a number of years ago to be closer to their two daughters and their families. Glenn developed lung cancer which was diagnosed not long ago. It took his life quickly and that would be the way Glenn would have wanted to leave this life.
I was Mail & File Supervisor in the Southern California Division when Glenn came through my unit as a Service Trainee. This happened in January 1960 and we've been good friends every since.
Glenn was a great golfer and took me out to play in my early time with the clubs. He was with me in January 1961 when I hit the first of three hole-in-ones of my golfing career. He said it was the first one he had seen in all of his time on the golf courses. On one of his birthdays we had the First Annual Glenn Carl Open at a local course. Unfortunately, we never got to the Second Annual Open.
Glenn completed his training and became a Service Supervisor of one of the auto units. In 1969 he was promoted to Service Superintendent in the Coastal Valley Division in the new Westlake Village Office. Little did I know that the next year I would be working with Glenn in that office as one of his supervisors. I considered it a pleasure to have him as my boss. He was kind enough to give me a couple of days off so I could recharge my batteries after spending so many hours trying to get the division on it's feet. It is something I've never forgotten. In 1972, I transferred back to the Southern California Office since that office was finally running smoothly.
In 1977, Glenn transferred back to our office to complete his time with our company. He retired in 1990 with 30 years of service.
The four friends (Dick Moore, Glenn Carl, Dick McDonald, Jerry Ammann) met together for breakfast with our spouses on a few occasions which were great times. It is situations like this that makes us think back on friendships of long standing.
We were privileged to be at their 50th wedding anniversary before they left California and Glenn and Mary now have a few more added to that number. Ann and I celebrated our 50th on July 22, 2005, so we are coming up on number 53 this summer. It's great to see couples that have stayed together that long. The McDonalds and the Ammanns have long term marriages as well.
I have great memories of Glenn Carl. I will miss him.
2 comments:
Sorry to hear about Glenn.
I worked alongside Glenn in SoCal when I was a 'rookie' supervisor and tried to learn from his example. He was well liked and respected by his team. Glenn was also a great fisherman. My son and I went fishing with him several times and can testify that Glenn always caught the most and the biggest fish. I will remember Glenn with fond memories.
Jon McNay
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