Glenn Alfrey Sampson, devoted husband, father, and grandpa, passed away on Aug. 27, 2026, at the age of 85. He was born January 26, 1941, in Bristow, Oklahoma, to A.J. and Pauline Sampson. He graduated from Bristow High School in 1959. Glenn went onto attend Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering in 1963, followed by an MBA from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, in 1965. During his college years, he was blessed with summer employment opportunities with Dow Chemical Company in Freeport, Texas, and Humble Oil in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
On Dec. 22, 1966, Glenn married Jean Palmer in Houston, Texas. Together, Glenn and Jean built a life centered on faith, family, service, friendship, and adventure.
Their life together took them to many cities across the country as Glenn’s career progressed, but wherever they lived, they made a home, found a church family, and looked for opportunities to serve others.
Glenn enjoyed a distinguished 35-year career with ExxonMobil, serving in a variety of supervisory and executive positions. His career took Glenn and Jean to Baytown, Texas; Mendham and Basking Ridge, New Jersey; Tracy, Minnesota; Houston, Texas; Darien, Connecticut; New York City; and Plano, Texas.
While Glenn was proud of his education and career, some of the work closest to his heart took place far beyond the walls of an office.
Glenn taught Sunday School in several churches, faithfully investing his time in studying and teaching God’s Word. His commitment to missions became
January 26, 1941 - August 27, 2026
an especially important part of his life. Glenn organized and led mission trips to Graffiti Community Ministries in New York City, where he also served for many years on the Graffiti Board. He participated in several mission trips to Brazil through Project 70 and likewise served for several years on the Project 70 Board. For Glenn, missions were far more than trips or positions of service. They reflected his desire to live out his faith, to serve people in tangible ways, and, above all, to help spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people around the world.
Glenn also had a great love for the outdoors and for hiking which turned into countless miles and unforgettable adventures with his good friend, Al Sanders. Glenn and Al frequently hiked with their wives in Rocky Mountain National Park, and the two friends went on to hike together throughout twelve states and ten countries around the world on five continents. One of Glenn’s most memorable adventures came at the age of 78, when he hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with his son, Tim. It was a fitting example of the determination and curiosity that remained with him throughout his life.
Glenn’s greatest earthly treasures, however, were the people he loved. He shared nearly six decades of marriage with his beloved wife, Jean. He was the father of Timothy Glenn Sampson, of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Melissa Harley and her husband, Joshua Harley, Sr., of Parker, Texas, and the proud grandfather of Joshua Harley, Jr. and Jessica Harley of Parker, Texas. He is also survived by his brother, Donald Eugene Sampson of Payson, Arizona.
Glenn lived a life marked by accomplishment, adventure, service, and devotion to those he loved. But the foundation beneath it all was his faith. He believed the Gospel was something not simply to be known, but to be lived and shared. Through his teaching, mission work, generosity, friendships, and example, he sought to put that faith into practice. His family is grateful for the life he lived, the faith he demonstrated, the adventures he shared, and the legacy he leaves behind.
A funeral service was held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026 at Parkway Hills Baptist Church, 2700 Dallas Parkway, Plano, Texas 75093. Interment was held at Ridgeview Memorial Park following the service.
The family received friends during a visitation on Tuesday evening from 6 until 8 p.m. at Turrentine- Jackson- Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, TX 75013.
In lieu of flowers, Glenn asked that memorial contributions be made to two ministries that were especially meaningful to him: Graffiti Community Ministries, 205 E. 7th Street, New York, NY 10009, GraffitiChurch. org or Project 70 USA/Brazil Missions, www.project70.org