Lewis Lloyd Glassmire, Jr. (71) of Glenwood, MD
Lewis Lloyd Glassmire, Jr. (71) of Glenwood, MD, passed away suddenly after a cardiac event on Thursday, January 18, 2024.
Lew was born on May 28, 1952, in Coudersport, Pennsylvania to the late Lewis Lloyd Glassmire, Sr. and Edythe Mabel Snyder Glassmire. Lew was raised on his family’s farm – cultivating a love of the outdoors as well as learning the true value of working hard, a trait that he would carry throughout his life and instill in his children and colleagues.
Lew graduated from Coudersport Area High School in 1970. As a high school student, he excelled in academics, and it was here he developed his love of sports, running track and field and playing basketball. Most importantly, during this time he met his high school sweetheart, Victoria Karhan, who would become his wife of 46 years.
Following high school Lew attended Penn State University and graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering, beginning his exciting career in civil construction. Marrying Vicki in 1977, together they left their hometown of Coudersport to begin their careers and start a family. Lew’s employment allowed him to work for various companies in several states, moving from the mid-Atlantic to as far south as Mississippi. Finally settling in Glenwood, Maryland, they continued raising their four children and lived for almost 30 years.
For the past 25 years, Lew has devoted himself to the construction firm, Allan Myers, working as a Senior Project Manager. He loved his work and his colleagues, and even in his seventies continued working part-time hours. Outside of his successful career, Lew was an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching football, basketball, and baseball. Professionally and personally Lew loved being part of a team, and in his children’s youth, he enjoyed coaching their various sports. Despite working long hours, Lew always made sure he never missed a game or practice.
Over the years Lew enjoyed hunting, fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, and motorcycles. His love for bikes began in his youth when he drove across the country on a motorcycle in his twenties. In recent years, you could find Lew taking his beloved Harley Sportster for a ride on weekends. He often reminisced about riding the Mediterranean island of Cyprus as well as a big trip out west to Sturgis, South Dakota with friends. Lew made sure to pass on his love of motorcycles to his children, and more recently his growing grandchildren, making sure each learned to ride on a little Honda XR80 dirtbike.
Lew’s family had grown over the years, and he was incredibly proud of his children and grandchildren. He loved sharing photos and updates with friends and colleagues. He was lovingly named ‘Opa’, German for Grandfather, after the birthplace of his first grandchild. Visiting Germany after this birth inspired a love for travel, and in the last 15 years, Lew managed to check many places off his bucket list, traveling to the UK, France, Cyprus, and Canada.
Lew’s love of history, reading the news, and writing everything down made him famously known as ‘Google-Lew’ and you could always count on him to know the answer to math problems, important dates, or navigation questions. Lew was an incredibly hard-working, personable, and charismatic man. A thoughtful and generous friend, brother, husband, father, and grandfather, he always lent a hand whenever he could.
In addition to his wife, Vicki, Lew is survived by his four children: Katie (Richard) Vines, Kingston, Ontario; Kari (Mac) Mackey, Severna Park, MD; Kristopher Glassmire, Glenwood, MD and Kirk Glassmire, Glenwood, MD; six grandchildren: Hannah, Charlie, and Bea Vines and Woody, Alice, and Rosie Mackey; siblings Samuel Glassmire and Mary Freeman (late husband Mark) and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
The family will receive friends from 1-3 pm and 5-7 pm on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at Haight Funeral Home & Chapel, 6416 Sykesville Road, Sykesville, MD.
Pennsylvania arrangements to follow on Friday, January 26, 2024, when the family will receive friends from 11 am-1 pm with a service at 1 pm at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3 Borie Street, Coudersport, PA 16915.
To honor Lew’s life and legacy the family suggests that donations be directed to the following charities:
Tunnel to Towers (http://www.t2t.org)
The Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org)
Online condolences may be offered at www.haightfuneralhome.com for those attending the MD viewing or www.thomasfickinger.com for those attending the PA funeral.