Glenn D.

Wise

Glenn D. Wise of Sylvania, Ohio, passed away on September 9, 2013. The son of Homer and Zella Wise, he was born in Canton on January 20, 1918. Glenn was a proud graduate of Canton McKinley High School (1935); Wittenberg College in Springfield, Ohio (1939); and the NABAC School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin. After graduating from Wittenberg, he worked in Chicago for the Hotel Eastgate as a rooftop waiter before becoming the night auditor. In 1941 he married Mary Dickey of Toledo, whom he met at Wittenberg College in 1936. After they were married, they shared a suite at the hotel in downtown Chicago, and Mary worked at the Marshall Field's flagship store on State Street. They then moved to Dayton, Ohio, where Glenn worked for the Miami Hotel and then Delco Products.
Glenn was a WWII veteran of the United States Navy, serving first at the United States Naval Rest Center in DeLand, Florida, where his commanding officer was Jock Sutherland. One day Jock was pacing back and forth in the office when he turned to Glenn and said, "Wise, you're from Canton," whereupon he pulled out his front bridge of teeth and announced, "Jim Thorpe did this to me." Glenn later served on board the U.S.S. Corduba, AF 32, in the Pacific Theater delivering stores, refrigerated items, and equipment to ships in the fleet and to remote stations in staging areas in the Pacific. Glenn served a tour to Okinawa; Tsingtao, China; and Jinsen, Korea, before serving a second tour to the Philippines (Manila and Subic Bay).
Upon his discharge, Glenn came to Toledo where he worked for the Dickey Manufacturing Company and Baron Steel before spending 30 years employed by First National Bank, now known as Fifth Third Bank, and its predecessors (Commerce Guardian Bank, Commerce National Bank, and National Bank of Toledo), retiring in 1983.
Glenn was active in Bethany Lutheran Church, the Wittenberg Alumnae Association, Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, church and federation softball, the Y.M.C.A. Church Athletic Association, the Inter-luncheon Bowling League, Downtown Coaches and the Whiteford Valley Retirees Golf League, serving as president, secretary, and/or treasurer in most of the organizations for many years. He was quite proud that he played baseball at Wittenberg, starting as leadoff batter in every game for the three years that he was eligible. In one game, he was five for five with three triples. He also was a basketball referee for church and federation leagues, as well as a volunteer for the Toledo Metro Parks and for meal deliveries for Sunset House.
Glenn was a Cub Scout Master and song leader for McKinley Grade School in Toledo, where he also was the first Pee Wee baseball coach. While his sons were students at DeVilbiss High School, he was active in the athletic support groups and was president of the Band Parents Organization.
Glenn was a life-long Cleveland Indian and Browns fan. His first major league game he ever attended was when he was 14 years old, and it turned out to be the longest major league game played at that time. It was July 10, 1932, at Old League Park in Cleveland, and the Indians lost to Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics in 18 innings with the final score 18 to 17. Jimmie Foxx hit 3 home runs in that game and became Glenn's all-time favorite player even though Foxx was not an Indian.
Glenn was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Mary Dickey Wise, and is survived by sons David G. Wise (Cary) of Perrysburg, Ohio; Stephen R. Wise (Alice) of Beaufort, South Carolina, and grandchildren Kathy Wise (Melissa Romig), of Dallas, Texas; James Wise of Columbus, Ohio; Amy Pallas (Matthew) of Broomfield, Colorado; and great-grandson Benjamin David Pallas.
There will be no visitation. A Celebration of Glenn's life will be held on Monday, September 16, 2013, at 11:30 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, 3274 Upton Avenue. The family suggests memorial tributes be made to Bethany Lutheran Church. Arrangements have been entrusted with the Foth-Dorfmeyer Mortuary where online condolences may be made at www.fothdorfmeyer.com