Maj. Glenn Harrison Wendell, Sr., USAF, (Ret.)

Glenn Harrison Wendell, Major, USAF, Retired, 99, of Waco, Texas passed away Saturday, October 11, 2025.

Glenn was born November 4, 1925, in Shelby, Ohio. He attended school through the 10th grade in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated absentia, May 1944 from Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Virginia when he was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Corps for Navigator Training, April 10th, 1944. When Germany capitulated, May 8th, 1945, he transferred for B-29 Gunnery Training and had just finished when the “bomb” was dropped. He was discharged from the service December 15th, 1945.

He attended Cleveland College in the Spring 1947 semester. During June, with partners, Glenn went into the restaurant business in Shelby, Ohio. On the 15th of August, he married Elizabeth Gelofsack. In March 1950, he took the opportunity to re-enter the USAF Navigator Cadet program at Ellington AFB, Houston, Texas. He was a Navigator Instructor until he entered the USAF Pilot Program, April 1952, receiving his wings in June 1953. He was trained as an A11 Weather Interceptor Fighter Pilot, flying the F-86D and F-89D. He flew the F-89D during the training of the F-89D Radar Operator during his tour at James Connelly AFB in Waco, Texas from September 1957 until January 1963. While on his off-duty time at James Connelly AFB, Glenn designed, built and operated the Cloverleaf Mobile Home Estates in Bellmead. He retired at Bergstrom AFB in Austin, Texas June 1970.

During the seventies, he commuted to Waco from his Austin residence and completed the construction of the mobile home park. He attended the University of Texas receiving his BBA in May, 1978.

In the mid-seventies he earned a Sea-plane rating and flew for several years during the summer months in Ontario, Canada as a Bush Pilot. The family moved to Waco in 1982.

Glenn was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Elizabeth Ann Wendell, in September 2015. His daughter-in-law, Laura Lea Wendell and son-in-law, Herbert Brackmann also predeceased him.

He is survived by his children and their spouses, Laura and Phil Smith of Arlington, Martha and Bob Rodriguez of New Braunfels, Glenda Brackmann of Waco, Glenn Wendell, Jr. of Waco, and Connie and Steve Lednicky of Waco, as well as many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. A true family of love.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to an Alzheimer Diseases Research Organization or to Tex Med Home Health, 1711 E Central Texas Expressway, Ste 309, Killeen, TX 76541.