Ancil T. “Red” Glass of Valrico, FL passed away January 21, 2019. He was born on January 18, 1927 and three days before his death had celebrated his 92nd birthday with over thirty immediate family members. Following a humble and often difficult childhood, Red left home at the age of 14 to be trained as a welder in a WPA program.
At the age of 17 he joined the Merchant Marines where he worked in the engine rooms of ships transporting fuel during the last years of WW2. He met and married his beloved wife Nell in her hometown of Brooksville, FL. They moved to Lakeland where he drove a delivery truck.
Someone suggested he might have a future in sales and he began to work selling vacuum cleaners and Singer sewing machines door-to-door. Eventually he managed one of the top Singer stores in Tampa. From Singer, Red was hired into the manager training program for W.T. Grant department stores.
He managed stores in several states across the south taking his family through ten moves in eleven years. Red moved to the Brandon community in 1970 as the manager of the W. T. Grant store in Clayton Plaza. Prior the closing of the Grants store in 1976, Red had already begun to try his hand at other businesses including Brandon Rental Center, Accent Marine, Mr. Transmission (ultimately Brandon Transmission), Brandon Paint and Body (now Brandon Body Shop).
He also began to invest in real estate in a time when Brandon was rapidly expanding. He was considered a gentleman businessman and conducted himself with integrity in all of his ventures. His favorite hobby was fishing of any kind and he loved being on the water.
Red was known for his quick wit and sense of humor and his “one-liners” that would often bring a laugh. He treated all he encountered with kindness and built friendships with many of those whom he encountered. Red was preceded in death by Nell, his beloved wife of 68 years.
Together they raised six children (so far, he would often say); Jennifer Jenkins, Windy Glass, Ronnie Glass (Sheree), Beverly Hild (Bill), Robert Glass, and Rebecca Douglas (Kevin). Together they also had 14 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. He was dearly loved by his family.
A memorial service will be held on February 9th in the chapel at King’s Avenue Baptist Church in Brandon, FL. The family will receive friends from 1:30 – 3 and the service will begin at 3:00. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the ‘Nell Glass Sewing Project’ to equip women in the Dominican Republic with sewing skills.
Donations can be sent to First Baptist Church of Sarasota at 1661 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34236. Make checks payable to First Baptist Sarasota and include Nell Glass Sewing Project in the memo line.
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