Obituary of Glen A. Chambers

Glen A. Chambers "Family man, actor, teacher" Hinsdale, NY Glen A. Chambers, 95, passed away Wednesday (June 1, 2016), in the Cuba Memorial Hospital Medical Care Unit, of complications from pneumonia. He was born December 16, 1920 in Chickasaw County, Iowa, to Daniel and Lela Anderson Chambers, the third son of four boys. A 1939 graduate of Hinsdale Central School, he received his BA from Drake University in 1943. He married Blanche Butler Chambers in 1942 who predeceased him in 2008. He served in the Army during WWII. An admirer of poetry, language and the stage, he was a beloved English teacher, first in Hinsdale, then Franklinville, and for twenty-five years at Olean High School, retiring in the late 1970's. He continued his love of theatre as a board member of the Olean Theatre Workshop where he performed in enumerable plays. One highlight of his stage career is this May 1998 Olean Times Herald review of his work in ON GOLDEN POND: “It’s Glen Chambers as Norman who’s flat-out phenomenal…From the opening scene, when he sets up his tragicomic descent into absent-mindedness, to the final scene, where he’s three months older but 30 years wiser, Mr. Chambers steals every scene he’s in. He’s a pure joy to watch.” Mr. Chambers was a founding member of Concerned Citizens of Cattaraugus County, a group that successfully blocked the siting of a dump in Farmersville. He belonged to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, serving for many years on the vestry, and was also a member of the Hinsdale American Legion Norton Chambers Post #1434. He loved his farmland on Gile Hollow Road, where he enjoyed hosting big parties, taking children for hayrides, and reciting poetry to friends and family around huge bonfires. He is survived by 2 sons Lee (Nancy Thorne) Chambers and Jery Chambers, both of Olympia, Washington; a daughter Kristin (Edwin Miner)Chambers of Hinsdale, 7 grandchildren Morgan, KC, Ali, Marie, and Amy Chambers and Daniel and Katharine Miner; a step-grandson Ken Leota and 3 great-granddaughters. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 65 years, his sons Daniel in 1963 and Mark in 2015; his younger brother Ralph in 2014 and his older two brothers, Lee and Keith, who were pilots killed in action in World War II. There will be no visitation. A celebration of his life will be held on Thursday (July 7, 2016) at 11am at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 109 W. Barry St., Olean, with a reception to follow. Rev. Kim Rossi, rector, will officiate. He will be laid to rest in the Hinsdale Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Genesis House of Olean (www.genesishouseofolean.org) or the Olean Public Library, where Mr. Chambers had nearly exhausted the supply of literary selections in the Large Print editions. Arrangements are under the direction of the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, Olean.