Honorable, Patriotic, Faithful Son, Husband and Father has returned home to his heavenly family.
Gerald, or Jerry, was born in Salt Lake City to Eugene Hyrum and Edda Mae Synder Glade. He was the youngest of 5 children. He had two brothers and two sisters: Rulon, Robert, Gloria and Dawn.
He graduated from West High School. He excelled at tennis and won a State Championship. He received an athletic scholarship to play for the University of Utah. He became nationally ranked as a tennis player and belonged to Pi Kappa Alpha.
In 1953, he enrolled in the Navy flight training program and received his commission as a Naval Officer and Aviator in March 1955. Jerry experienced adventures all over the world.
Jerry was a member of the first Naval Support Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica. They found and re-opened Scott’s cabin. He tasted some of the food there and said it was still fine after 30+ years. Decades later, he returned as Deputy Commander, Naval Support Force Antarctica for the National Science Foundation. For his contributions, GLADE BAY in Antarctica is named after him.
He supervised the mechanics aboard the USS Thetis Bay which was part of the Cuban Missile Crises blockade. In the late 60s, he was a Commanding Officer of Helicopter Squadron 7 tasked with Search and Rescue and Logistics Transport in the Bay of Tonkin. HC-7 was also known as the Supporters and Defenders of the Seventh Fleet. It was an exciting adventure for the whole family as they lived in Atsugi, Japan for 3 years. Later, in Milton, Florida, he was Chief of Staff of Training Wing 5 during the Iran Hostage Crises. He was tasked with the logistics of expelling Iranian student pilots being trained in Milton.
After retirement, he returned to Salt Lake City and the home he helped his father build in the Monument Park Stake on the Indian Hills East Bench. He spent the last few years of his life in St. George, Utah.
Jerry loved golfing, He played golf several times a week for decades. He had a close-knit group of golfing buddies who would go on vacations together or meet up in different states. He was a member of the GGGs or Great Gentleman Golfers,
Even though they lived about six blocks from each other in the Salt Lake City Avenues, Jerry did not meet his wife Janis until they were both in Pensacola, Florida. They were married for 61 years. Jerry was beloved as ‘Papa Bear’ to 4 children,12 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.
He was a faithful member if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served as Bishop of the Milton Florida Ward. He had a deep love and knowledge of the gospel. He didn’t read a lot but did study the scriptures and gospel resources. He wanted to make sure he got things right. He wanted to be good, and he was.
What a wonderful life of adventures and service! Jerry is survived by his wife Janis, four children Cary (Tammy Jordan), Heather (Brian Martin), Holly and Rulon, and his sister, Gloria Bonham. He was a wonderful son, husband, and father. Truly, he was one of the best of men.
Services will be held on Friday, July 22 with a 12:45 pm viewing and a 2:00 pm funeral at Larkin Funeral Home, 260 E. South Temple. Jerry will be interred in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
For those who wish to view the recording of the services may do so here: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/fF5IkcFM-GgayBv-h_wqZGAjqy1vdbs_F2tTacTM2kziwNQyXUFWV57EFOu_omUL.FFRbm-8ddZDsJU8L?startTime=1658518591000
Services can be viewed for 30 days.
