Obituary of Glen H. Walkup

Glen H. Walkup died peacefully on Saturday, August 26th, 2017 at Ellis Hospital in the comfort of his family.  Glen was born on June 29th, 1938 in Hopkinton MA, where he and his older brother Bill were raised by loving parents, Ralph and Ruth.  Glen met Sherry Webster, his soul mate and wife of 57 years, at the University of Maine; they married in 1960 shortly after graduation. Glen began his career as an electrical engineer working for GE in 1960 after a six-year technical marketing program.  The Walkups settled in Schenectady in 1966, raising a son and three daughters.

Glen stepped aside from his corporate career track in 1972 to buy and run a frame shop and art supply store in East Glenville. This offered him an opportunity to embark on a lifelong love of sailing with his family.  After eight years and a fire which claimed the store, Glen returned to work for GE as a large motor warrantee specialist, which took him around the world to negotiate on behalf of GE.  When he officially retired from GE in 1987, he started a consulting business that he ran for 13 years. It gave him even more time to enjoy his family and his loves of sailing, tennis, missionary work, choral singing, and woodworking. 

Glen loved life, and often expressed his great appreciation for his family and the joy it brought him.  He felt constantly blessed through his lifelong walk with Jesus.

Glen is survived by his wife Sherry, of Niskayuna, daughter Nancy and son-in-law Bret Reilly of Niskayuna; son John and daughter-in-law Carm of Schenectady; daughter Rebecca and son-in-law Dave Bowles of Rotterdam; daughter Ruth and son-in-law Charlie Fields of Denver, Co.; ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Calling hours will be held Wednesday, August 30th from 2-4 PM, and from 6-8 PM at the Glenville Funeral Home, 9 Glenridge Road. A funeral service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Schenectady on Thursday, August 31st, 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at Sweetman Cemetery in Charlton.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Schenectady City Mission, 425 Hamilton St., Schenectady, N.Y., 12305. Online condolences may be made at glenvillefuneralhome.com