Charles Glen Vinyard, 89, formerly of Roxana, Illinois, walked into his heavenly home on April 2, 2025. He was born on August 12, 1935, in Gallatin County, Illinois, before he and his parents, Cecil and Wilma, moved to East Alton/Wood River. Glen graduated from Roxana High School and spent 1 year, 11 months, and 28 days serving in the US Army before marrying Patsy Chowning of Fairbanks, Indiana, in 1957. They were blessed with 49 years of marriage before her passing in 2006. She was an amazing and talented mom who knew how to make people feel loved and welcome.

Glen worked at the Shell Oil Refinery before he started his career as a pipefitter. He recalled watching the completion of the Gateway Arch as he drove back and forth to Jackson Welding School in St. Louis. During his later years as a pipefitter, he also served as a water commissioner for the Village of Roxana from 1979 to 1985. Glen eventually went to work for the water department and became a licensed water operator; he retired from the village in 1998 after 13 years. He also served several terms as a trustee for the Village of Roxana.

He loved his church family at First Baptist in Roxana where he and Pat attended and served for 40+ years. Even during his last week on earth, Glen clearly said, "God has been good to me." He loved kids and dogs. He enjoyed trips to the Knoxville Nationals sprint car races with his son-in-law, and he greatly appreciated a well-manicured lawn and a clean car. He moved to northeast Illinois in 2016 to be close to his daughter and son-in-law.

Glen is survived by his daughter, Cressinda VanderMeersch (Terry) in Gurnee; his sister Cecilia Harmon in Old Hickory, Tennessee; brother Dennis (Brenda) in Edwardsville; sister Nancy Bailey in Riverside, California; and "double cousin" Hildred McCumber in Sunnyland. He was preceded in death by his wife, Patsy, brothers-in-law Charles Harmon and Mark Bailey, and Patsy's brothers and their wives, John and Joan Chowning and Michael and Luellen Chowning. He leaves behind beloved extended family, dear nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews from California to Florida, and many special friends from his life in Roxana.

Services will be held at Paynic Home for Funerals at 618 E. Airline Drive in East Alton on Friday, April 11, 2025: visitation at 9:00 am, funeral at 11:00 am. Burial to follow at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Roxana. Special thanks to the staff at Brookdale Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Assisted Living in Kenosha and St. Croix Hospice for their loving care.