James Arthur Glidden

   Hartford City, it is with great love and thankful hearts that the family of James Arthur Glidden, 83, announced that he has passed away at his home in Hartford City at 4:05 pm on Friday, May 26, 2023, after a long illness.

   He was preceded in death by his wife of 27 years, Linda Sells Glidden, on December 26, 2020.  He is survived by his sons, Tom (Sabrina), Tim (Patty), Ted (Cathy), Terry S(Melissa), Bob (Sharon) Carrell, and daughter Ginny (Jason) Blosser.  Many grandchildren and great-grandchildren will carry forward fond memories of Grandpa Jim.

   Our loving patriarch was born to Mura (Stevens and Earl Glidden in Unity, Main on November 13, 1939.  He graduated from Margaretta High School in 1958 and began his service in the U.S. Navy on April 30, 1959.  He sailed aboard the U.S.S. Constellation (CV-64) as Parts Clerk, Petty Officer.  With an honorable discharge on March 28, 1963, and his first son on the way, he moved his growing family to Indiana and began his career in retail sales.  Jim was skilled in wood crafts and pursued meaningful work to serve the practical needs of others abroad in missionary travel.  In recent years he volunteered locally with the Second Harvest Food Bank – often in unseen ways – sometimes traveling across Indiana to save donated meats and produce by bringing them back to help people in Delaware County and surrounding areas.  He was a fascinating storyteller, entertaining us with stories of his childhood in Maine, the excitement of being on the Constellation while it served as an alternate mobile landing platform for John Glenn in 1962, how he just happened to be backstage during the taping of the Ed Sullivan Show, and tales of all the interesting people he met along the way.

   We are deeply grateful to the staff of Heart-to-Heart Hospice for their dedication and compassionate care for Jim and our family during his final weeks with us.

   For those interested in making memorial gifts in his honor the family suggests donating to The Second Harvest Food Bank, 6621N. Old State Rd. 3, Muncie, Indiana 47303, or by visiting online at: https://tinyurl.com/js6emcb9.

   Visitation will be 3:00 pm -5:00 pm on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at Middletown United Methodist Church, located at 625 High Street, Middletown, Indiana 47356.  A Celebration of Life service will follow at 5:00 pm, officiated by his son, Tim Glidden.   Cremation services are entrusted to the Parson Mortuary Cremation Center.

Online condolences may be made to the family in care of www.parsonmortuary.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James Arthur Glidden, please visit our floral store.