My brother-in-law, Glenn Caldwell, went to be with the Lord July 8, 2011, at the age of 102. Ann and I visited with him just a few days ago in Fort Smith. He was aware of our visit. I held his hand as we all had prayer. Dorcie, my sister, and Glenda his daughter were there.
Glenn was a graduate of the University of Arkansas. He had been their oldest living graduate as far as we could know. He was a devoted Razorback fan.
He was a fourth generation Caldwell to have lived in Sebastian County in Arkansas. His great-grandfather moved there just after the Civil War. He was a third generation potter and a farmer. Glenn's grandfather lived near Greenwood and had a shop there. He had a jewelry and hardware store with coffins in the back room! Glenn's father became a surveyor, working for railroads in Arkansas and Indian Territory (Oklahoma). He later worked for Mansfield Gas company until he retired at EIGHTY.
Glenn remembered their first car as a Studebaker, when he was a boy. There were two seats but no top or side windows. Later his father and grandfather went together to buy a Model T. Just down highway 71 a few miles was a tiny town named Ione. Never heard of it? Maybe you have heard of it's two most famous residents born there, Dizzy and Paul Dean!
Glenn graduated from high school at Mansfield in 1926. There were twelve in his class. He entered Henderson-Brown in Arkadelphia in 1927. After two years he transferred to the University of Arkansas for business courses. He married Alice Stanford in 1931. After her death Glenn married my sister and they had almost twenty-five years together. They literally traveled the world. Quite a treat for my sister who had only been out of Arkansas to move to California during World War II. She had never flown or driven a car. She still hasn't done the car part.
Glenn was a devoted Christian and active member of Goddard Memorial Methodist Church in Fort Smith. We will miss him and his kind smile and gentle voice.
