Eagleville, MO: Glen Edward Trullinger was born to Guy Emery and Edith Marie (Rinehart) Trullinger on May 17, 1926, in rural Worth County, Missouri. He was the third of six children. Glen passed from this earthly life into heaven on Sunday, January 2, 2022, at the age of 95.
Most of Glen’s childhood years were spent on farms in the area around Hatfield, MO. In 1939 his family moved to a farm north of Eagleville, MO. He graduated from Eagleville High School in 1943.
The United States was at war, so Glen tried to join the Navy immediately after graduation. As he was only seventeen a parent’s signature was required and his father refused to sign for him. In 1944 just before his eighteenth birthday, his mother was persuaded to sign the papers allowing him to enlist in the Navy. After basic training he was assigned to the communications unit of a supply ship, the USS Megrez. During his two years in the South Pacific, Glen experienced sea sickness, home sickness, typhoons, and memories that lasted a lifetime.
When Glen was discharged from the Navy in 1946, he returned home and began to work as a repairman for the telephone company in Lamoni, IA. At the telephone office he met Rachel Ballantyne who was working as a telephone operator. They were married in Olathe, KS on June 10, 1947. At this time, they began to farm, building up their equipment and dairy cattle herd. In 1953 Glen and Rachel purchased and moved to a farm four miles north of Eagleville, MO where they lived for the next forty-six years. On this farm he and Rachel raised their four children, chickens, big gardens and a lot of hay for a big herd of cattle. Glen and Rachel were members of the community church, Otterbein, where he was Sunday School superintendent for many years. When Otterbein closed, they joined the Christian church in Eagleville.
In 1965 Glen enrolled in classes at Graceland College in Lamoni, IA. He graduated with a BA in business education in 1968. In the fall of 1968 he started teaching business at Martinsville, MO schools and taking classes at Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, MO. In 1971 he received a master’s degree in secondary administration. In 1971 Glen joined the faculty as a business education teacher at Graceland College. He was awarded a Specialist degree from Central Missouri State college in 1979. Glen retired from full time teaching in 1990, but for some time continued to teach a summer school course and supervise student teachers at Graceland. He also taught a computer class for Harrison County Extension for many years.
In retirement, Glen and Rachel built a new home and moved from the farm to Eagleville, MO. Glen enjoyed woodworking, growing a big garden and going to the farm to check on his cows. Glen was proud to be a military veteran and he and Rachel enjoyed many trips to his ship reunions. He was also an active member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He served as Commander of the Eagleville American Legion post from 2001-2014. Participating in military rites with a group of fellow servicemen at funerals of veterans was an honor for him for many years.
Glen was preceded in death by Rachel, his wife of nearly 74 years; a dearly loved daughter-in-law, Comfort Trullinger; his parents; three brothers and one sister and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Glen will be sadly missed by his four children and their spouses; Ed and Margaret, Tom and Judy, Terry, and Marcie and David Atwood; and his thirteen grandchildren and their families including eighteen great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Louise Kinder of Lakewood, CO; sister-in-law, Christy Trullinger of Urbandale, IA, and many nieces and nephews. Funeral Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, January 8 at the Eagleville Christian Church, Eagleville, MO under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home, Eagleville, MO. Burial with Military Rites will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery, Lamoni, IA. The family will receive friends from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Saturday at the church where masks and social distancing are requested. Memorials may be made to the North Harrison Ambulance Service and/or Donor’s Choice in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Eagleville, MO 64442. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com