Glenda Faye Witherspoon Crout

Glenda Faye Witherspoon Crout passed away peacefully September 2, 2025. She is survived by her beloved husband of nearly 60 years James Everett Crout; daughter, Jessica (Crout) Russo and son-in-law, Nicholas Russo of Shreveport, LA; son, Timothy Crout of New York; granddaughters, Magdeline Russo of Shreveport, LA, and Mariana Russo of Lexington, KY; sister, Diana Massey of Mesquite, TX, and sisters-in-law, Jeanne Crout of Frisco, TX, and Karen (Crout) Arneson and husband, Richard Arneson of Pflugerville, TX. She is also survived by nieces, Page Massey Staffa (Daniel), Jennifer Holland Campbell (Jerry), and Elisabeth Arneson Jones (Nathan); and nephews, Anthony Massey (Jessica), Joel Massey (Michelle), and Byron Massey (Angela) and their families. She is also survived by many cherished cousins, aunts, and uncles.

Glenda Faye Witherspoon was born October 30, 1943 in Denton, TX, to parents Avanelle O’Dell and Royal Witherspoon. Sister Diana Lynn arrived two years later and the family was complete. After graduating from Denton High School in 1961, she attended University of North Texas (formerly North Texas State University) where she completed a degree in English with a minor in French. While at North Texas she met her future husband James (Jim) on a blind date, and after a two-year courtship, they married in Denton on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1965. The couple began married life in the small town of Decatur, TX, where she taught high school English and Speech while Jim finished his undergraduate degree. After Jim’s acceptance to Baylor College of Medicine, the two relocated to Houston, and she continued her teaching career both at Westchester and Memorial High Schools. After four years in Houston, Jim’s internship took them to Iowa City, IA, for a year where they welcomed their first child, Jessica Ashley in 1970. A year later they moved to Rochester, MN, for his four-year medical residency and fellowship and welcomed Timothy Shoun in 1972. From there it was on to Oakland, CA, where Jim served for two years in the Navy as a physician. After seven years out of state, they decided to return home to Texas and settled in Austin where they thrived for 37 wonderful years. In 2014, Glenda and Jim retired to Shreveport, LA, to be closer to their grandchildren.

“Servanthood is the Only True Nobility” - Anonymous

One of Glenda’s favorite quotations was, in fact, the guiding principle of her life. Wherever life took her, Glenda always found ways to serve others. Whether it be teaching Sunday school to all ages; leading GAs, Girl Scouts, and Boy Scouts; or presiding over nearly every parent organization for her children’s schools, Glenda embodied both the biblical and the broader principle of servant-leadership. For over 30 years she directed programs with First Baptist Church’s Juarez, Mexico, missions, as well as the Friendship program, which assisted in educating foreign-born students in English and subjects related to American culture. When she saw a need, she met it, as exemplified by her work with the Maggie Johnson Nursing Home which she adopted for over a decade. Her kitchen mission went far beyond making and delivering meals or baking banana bread; it was always creatively packaged and presented with a touch of humor and whimsy. As the oldest granddaughter of over 30 cousins, Glenda was a firm believer in honoring your family and heritage. Her servanthood extended to caring for her aging parents and in-laws, organizing family gatherings, and decorating family graves. She took every one of her roles in life seriously – from wife and mother to daughter to niece to aunt and especially to grandmother. One of the many examples was her care for Jessica and her grandchildren during Nick’s many deployments.

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me” - C.S. Lewis

Storytelling fed her soul whether it be a good book, a meaningful poem, or a loved film. From her memberships in the Austin Shakespeare and American History Clubs to her many years as a bookseller at Toad Hall Children’s Bookstore, Glenda loved to be surrounded by the written word. Drawing from her extensive children’s literature collection, Glenda was famous for her magical tea parties. A deep lover of mysteries, she was also known to write original Nancy Drew-inspired plays for gatherings and included meaningful quotations in everyday correspondence. Ever the consummate hostess, her gatherings always included a great meal, an unexpected educational experience, and a touch of enchantment. She always made sure to have homemade cookies in a tin and a tea pot at the ready in case of unexpected visitors.

“Sometimes, you just need a Twinkie” – Glenda Crout

Despite her innate elegance and regality, she was one book not to be judged by its cover. She abhorred the lack of romance in modern technology, especially computers and microwaves, and was the proud owner of a begrudgingly-carried and frequently-unanswered flip phone. With her grandchildren she was known to dance with scarves, hold frequent tea parties on the staircase landing, and always hide a treasure in their bedroom for them to find upon arrival. While Glenda was an extraordinary cook, she always had a soft spot for the simple things like a Dr. Pepper, a corndog, or some good guacamole. Never one to be bound by the limitations of modern English, she had a special original language understood only by close family, small children, and animals. Seemingly always in motion, she was known to break into a little tap dance or burst into a melody at the drop of a hat. She had a deep love for travel and adventure coupled with an innate curiosity. Even during rare moments of calm, her mind was off imagining a wonderful new project or creation.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, October 3, 2025 at 10:30am on the campus of Riverbend Church in Austin, TX; beginning with a memorial service at Smith Chapel, and followed by interment at Remembrance Gardens, and a lunch reception at the Community Center.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you memorize a poem, have a tea party, read a book to a child, donate a book to a library or school, go see a movie, or do anything else that makes your heart sing.