J. Edward Glass

Joseph Edward Glass was born September 18, 1937 to Joseph Edward Glass Sr. and Dorothy Holland Glass in Castleberry, Alabama. He died 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 W Va. 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 in Castleberry Alabama at 2pm on Saturday November 29 at the Castleberry  Methodist Church. 

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.