Glen Middleton

Glen Edward Middleton was born to Edward and Alma Middleton on June 5, 1926 and passed to his glory with his Heavenly Father on June 5, 2016, his 90th birthday. The 5th of 6 children, he grew up on the family farm near Kanorado, Kansas. He attended school in Ruleton, Kansas and met his high school sweetheart, Twyla Marie Been, at a local skating rink.

He was the last of the family to be drafted into the US Army during World War II (all 3 of his brothers were already serving). He was finally granted a "delay in route" while being transferred from Texas to Fort Riley and managed to catch a train to Goodland where he surprised his family by showing up unannounced and married Twyla on October 4, 1945. Since he was not really on leave, they had only 3 days to make arrangements, marry and honeymoon before he had to report for duty. They married in her parent's home, had a reception at the Goodland Hotel and traveled to Denver for a honeymoon, where they had to show their marriage license in order to rent a hotel room together.

After reporting back to the Army, Glen spent a few more weeks at Fort Riley before being shipped to Washington, D.C where he spent the rest of his tour on ceremonial and guard duty including guarding President Truman and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. He was even hit by a snowball thrown by President Truman!

After being discharged from the Army, he returned to Kansas and he and his bride moved to Goodland, where he worked in a photography studio and for the gas company that was laying lines for natural gas in the area and west into Colorado. He was on the volunteer fire department and was fire chief from 1958 - 1966 in Goodland, a distinction he wore with pride even 70 years later.

In 1966 they moved their family to Topeka, where his father-in-law got him started as a barber. He eventually took over the Palace Barber Shop at California Crossing and owned it until he retired in 1988.

During retirement Glen and Twyla loved to travel, often picking a direction to point the van or RV and just driving till they wanted to stop. In their travels they visited 49 states, the District of Columbia and 3 countries.

In 2015 Glen and Twyla celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary surrounded by family and friends. Glen was a member of the Community of Christ and served as an Elder since 1959. Glen will be remembered for many reasons, including having "9 lives", beating 2 "incurable" cancers, having 3 close encounters with lightening, telling his many tales of life on a western Kansas farm, being able to fix anything, and always having a smile and a hug for those around him. He was a family man, always putting God and his family first. He was known as "Dad" and "Granddad" to many people around the world.

He is preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, 2 sisters and an infant son, Ronald Glen. He is survived by his wife, Twyla, of Berryton, Daughter Linda Houseman (Woody) of Berryton, Son Gary Middleton (Sarah) of Berryton and a daughter-of-the-heart, Ruth Humbert of Topeka. There are 20 people who call him Granddad, 18 who call him Great Granddad, one Great Great Grandchild, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 10, 2016 at Penwell-Gabel Southeast Chapel, 2843 SE Minnesota. Burial with military honors will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Berryton. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Topeka Community of Christ or Midland Care.

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