Donna Glenn of Wylie died Wednesday, April 10 in Frisco, Texas hospital from an extended illness. She was the loved wife of Thurman for nearly 35 years, who survives her. They were married in the First Baptist Church of Plano, Texas after a brief courtship. They were brought together by mutual attraction "that was meant to be" through a long series of unusual events that occurred over a long period. Donna celebrated her ninety-second birthday on March 27. She was born on Easter Sunday in Webster City, Iowa to Harold and Lucille McCollough in 1932. She became a Christian early in life.
Donna is also survived by her three children, Dennis Wilson of Algona, Iowa, Denise Dale of Grays Lake, Illinois and Debbie Jensen of Valley View, Texas. Also, her only sister, Zada Utzinger of Mankato, Minnesota survives. Donna was predeceased by her two brothers, Richard Maxson of Colorado Springs, Colorado and James Maxson of Ponca City, Oklahoma. Within her own lineage she leaves eight grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. Thurman's family added his three children, Dr. Randal Glenn of Sugar Land, Texas, Debra Arledge of Richardson, Texas and Jeffrey Glenn of Roanoke, Texas, plus nine grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren to the family.
She attended Webster City High School and was very involved in the activities. She was a majorette, baton twirler and cheer leader. She became concert mistress of the orchestra and sang in choir as well. Donna received advanced training in violin and vocal from college professors during her high school days. She had some college education.
Donna married Dean Wilson, the father of her children, after graduation from high school. The marriage of nearly 25 years was cut short by his early death. She then experienced an extended period of difficult changes in her life. Eventually she moved to Plano, Texas in 1989 after living in Tulsa over three years so she would be next to her daughter and her family.
Donna worked at miscellaneous jobs such as hospital ward clerk, assembler of Born Free campers, house and office cleaner, photo studio manager (2 concurrently), traveling photo proof consultant, church soloist and presenter of Christian concerts. Some of these activities were performed in Des Moines, Iowa where she lived at the time. She was a featured soloist at a large nondenominational church there on the Television outreach. She organized and directed two barber-shop groups and sang herself in quarters in Iowa. She sometimes wrote harmony notes herself when felt it would improve the sound. She worked in an insurance office as well as a real estate office in Tulsa. Her successes included selling Beauty Control, Beanie Babies and Goji Juice in Texas.
Donna became convinced that she should share her vocal skills through presenting sacred concerts and committed her life to it. She started on her own in Iowa using a specially modified tape-driven sound system. She ran it herself as she sang. The performance tracks were previously recorded without the lead voice which Donna sang herself. After she came to Texas, Thurman became her sound operator with more advanced sound equipment. The performance tracks were recorded on CD's and later on mini disks. She used a variety of music styles, eventually featuring gospel. She presented several Christmas concerts of both secular and Christian songs at Hideaway, Texas which featured special decorations and drama. They made their home in Hideaway about seventeen years. She recorded "Far Beyond" to sell at her concerts to provide proceeds for donations to religious organizations. Donna also performed by herself and sang with others in many nursing homes in the Tyler, Texas area.
