J. Edward Glass
September 18, 1937 ~ November 21, 2025
Resided in: Fargo, North Dakota
Joseph Edward Glass was born September 18, 1937 to Joseph Edward Glass Sr. and Dorothy Holland Glass in Castleberry, Alabama. He died Friday, November 21, 2025 in Fargo, North Dakota under hospice care from complications of vascular dementia.
His early childhood was in Alabama followed by a move to New Orleans where he grew up and graduated high school. While attending Louisiana State University, Ed married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Cue on Sept 9, 1957. They lived in Baton Rouge, LA, Lafayette, IN, and Charleston, WV while welcoming their 3 children, Janet, Mark, and Diane. They later divorced amicably. In l980 he married Ann Buettner, and they were blessed with one son, Eric.
Ed earned his PhD in chemistry from Purdue University. His early career was with the Union Carbide Corporation in Charleston, WV. In 1980 he accepted a position at North Dakota State University in the Polymers and Coatings department where he guided dozens of graduate students toward productive careers. Ed was acclaimed for his research in water soluble polymers and their adaptations in paints and enhanced oil recovery, and was awarded the Roy W. Tess Award in 2005.
Ed was a 40 year member of First Lutheran Church in Fargo where he taught Sunday School for many years. He was an avid tennis player well into his 70s. His personality might be described as a curmudgeon with a big heart! Always an independent and critical thinker, he spoke his mind freely without regard for consequences (having the dubious distinction of being gently disinvited from men’s Bible study), but he was always generous to those in need, and was a particular contributor to Churches United for the Homeless.
His later years were marked by slow progression of vascular dementia which he met with great determination. Many thanks to the staff at Bethany on University for their excellent and compassionate care over the last year.
He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Diane, brother Richard, and aunts and uncles.
He is survived by his wife Ann, daughter Janet (Tom) Dekle, sons Mark (Lisa) and Eric, his sister Louise Martindale, four nephews, one niece, as well as grandchildren Tyler (Kaelan), Jackson (Jordan) and Ava, and two adorable great granddaughters.
Memorial and inurnment will take place at 2:00pm on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at the Castleberry Methodist Church in Castleberry, Alabama.
A donation to your favorite charity would honor Ed’s memory.
Arrangements entrusted to the care of Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center.
The the Glass family,
I am so sorry to hear of Dr Glass’s passing. I knew in class that we were learning from a brilliant legend and loved post graduation seeing Dr Glass’s humanity, sharing his support of those less fortunate as well as connecting with former students in simple celebrations. The world will miss Dr Glass, I feel so privileged to have studied and known him.
My deepest sympathies to Dr Glass’s family and friends. As a fellow polymer scientist I have the greatest respect for the excellence he displayed in this field but complete admiration for the way he lived his life.
I was one of Dr. Glass’ Sunday School students at First Lutheran. I couldn’t tell you the name of any other Sunday School teachers I’d had, so Dr. Glass made an impression. All these years later, I still think of him from time to time. I remember young me thinking how cool it was that he was a ‘teacher’ at NDSU. I wish your family peace now and in the days ahead.
Dr. Glass was my advisor when I was an undergraduate at NDSU, and he taught most of my courses in polymers and coatings. I owe him a debt of gratitude. He was always nice to me and very encouraging. May he rest in peace.