Glenn Elliott Walden

February 21, 1946 – October 11, 2026

Born in Marianna, Florida, Glenn was the fifth of five children born to Grace and Otis Walden. His older siblings were Ted, Esther, Don, and Barbara, and he later welcomed his bonus brothers, Edmund and Robert.

After the death of his mother, Grace, he was lovingly raised by his Granny on the family farm. He loved to recall what it was like growing up there and the daily chores he performed. His pig call was one of the best you could have heard. He also learned to whistle so loudly that every animal could hear him. That came in handy later when cheering for his Gators.

In Glenn’s early years, he spent time playing sports and “tussling” as he would say with brothers and cousins once getting a tooth knocked out in horseplay. He grew up in the church where his daddy preached and was baptized in the creek just down from the farm, the beginning of a lifelong relationship with the Lord.

Glenn excelled in school and graduated high school at 16 as valedictorian. He also participated in Future Farmers of America which planted the seeds for what would become his career. He spent two years at Chipola Jr. College and then made his way to The University of Florida - the first Gator in a family of Seminoles which made family Thanksgivings even more fun. He earned his degree in Agriculture Economics and was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho, a fraternity that gave him lifelong brothers and friends in addition to amazing college memories and future colleagues.

He began his career with the United States Department of Agriculture after graduating from UF and spent 40 years dedicating his life to building communities thru Economic Development. He later loved explaining Rural America to his girls and pointing out the projects he played a part in across the State of Florida.

Glenn also began his career with the National Guard after graduating from UF and was honored to serve for more than forty years in the army, eventually attending the War College and retiring as a Colonial.

While visiting his older brother, Ted Walden and sister-in-law, Joan, in Atlanta, he met the love of his life, Dorothy Louise Register. They were married in 1970 and began a journey that would take them to Marianna, FL, Gainesville, FL (three times), Washington, DC (three times) and Aiken, South Carolina. Along the way he was “blessed”, as he would say, “…with his two beautiful girls”, Amy Melissa Walden Drury and Kristen Ashley Walden Thomas.

Upon retirement in Valdosta, GA, he built a community of friends while being close to family he enjoyed seeing more often. He was also able to spend time on the sport he had always loved, golf, as well as volunteering in church ministries, doing mission trips domestically and abroad, serving as a deacon, being a member of the Outlaws Sunday School Class, leading the Military Officers Association of America, raising money in the community for causes he loved and spending lots of time with his four grandchildren who he absolutely adored - Cooper Blake Drury, Caroline Grace Drury, Cole Patrick Thomas and Vivian Reese Thomas.

No matter where he lived or how far away he was from Gainesville you could find him sitting in his season ticket North End Zone Row 20 seats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium or pacing in front of a TV, watching his Gators play.

He lived his faith out every day, reaching out to others in need, participating in Billy Graham Ministries, serving as a disaster relief volunteer and Chaplin.

His life was big, just like his smile and laugh! He never met a stranger and cherished his time with family, especially with grandkids riding waves on a boogie board at the beach, playing basketball in the driveway, grabbing breakfast at Waffle House (especially his morning coffee), having late night ice cream with his granddaughters, and playing Old Maid.

Glenn leaves a legacy of love and faith and for that we are grateful.

He is survived by his loving wife and best friend Dorothy Louise Register Walden (of 56 years), his sister Esther Walden Holland and his brother Edmund Walden. His daughters, Amy Walden Drury (Blake Drury) and Kristen Walden Thomas (Sean Thomas), his grandchildren, Cooper Blake Drury, Caroline Grace Drury, Cole Patrick Thomas and Vivian Reese Thomas.

Funeral service will be held at 11:30 on Saturday, October 17, 2026 at First Baptist Church of Valdosta in Valdosta, Georgia with Rev. Mac Weaver officiating.  Visitation will take place at the church from 10:00 until 11:00 prior to the funeral service.  Interment with military honors will take place at 1:00 PM on Monday, October 19, 2026 in Tallahassee, Florida at Tallahassee National Cemetery.  Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.boonefunerals.com.  Boone Funeral Home is serving the Walden family.