WESTFIELD – John Warfield Glaze, a lifelong Westfield resident, died on January 10, 2014 at his home surrounded by family. He was born in Springfield, MA on January 2, 1925, the son of the late John Wallace Glaze and Marjorie (Warfield) Glaze.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Shirley (Alger) Glaze, and his sons; Jeffrey W. Southampton, MA and Jonathan W. and wife Sandra, Westfield, MA; his brother, Horace W. Glaze and wife Taylor, Killington, VT and 3 grandchildren, Justin W. and wife Kellie in West Springfield, Jordan W. Southampton and Jocelyn W. Glaze, Northampton, MA. Carol (Hough) Glaze, John’s wife of fifty-six years, died in 2006. His sisters, Louise Harding and Helen Suzanne Paul, preceded him in death. He leaves step-daughter, Gretchen Draper and her husband, Barry, New Hampton, NH and step-son, Jonathan Dorrington and companion, Lynn Schwimmer, Canaan, N.Y. His family thanks his caregivers, Deb Garcia, MaryLou Kagen, and Noble Hospice for their dedicated and loving service. His Border Collie, Mollie, will miss him.
John Glaze attended Westfield grade schools and the WHS class of ’42. He was instrumental in initiating the first WHS hockey team under Principal T.J. Abernathy. John graduated from Williston Academy, Easthampton, MA in 1943. Following graduation he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps cadet program and was commissioned as an aerial navigator. He flew 28 bombing missions over Germany as the navigator on B-17 (Flying Fortress) bombers from their air base in Debach, England. After World War II ended, John attended Bryant College in Providence, RI, graduating with a B.S. degree in Business Administration. He went to work for Anderson & Sons, Westfield as an estimator, then as salesman in 1948.
John had always dreamed of owning and operating his own business. That year he met Carol Hough and made two lifetime decisions. He married Carol in 1949 and began Decorated Metal Products Co. in 1950 with Carol by his side. Their first location was in the cellar of the old Robinson Reminder building on Elm Street. In 1955, with the help of his brother, Horace “Red” Glaze, he built a factory on Arch Road, Westfield. On Thanksgiving Eve, 1971, the building burned down. With the help of his staff, his brother, and many friends, he rebuilt the factory and began producing metal name plates again in January 1972. In 1973 John was given a permit to build Hampden Village – a manufactured home park for residents 55 and over. In 1977 he inherited Valley View Farm in Charlemont, MA. The farm had been owned by his mother’s family, the Warfields, since 1853. John ran the working farm as a Bed and Breakfast and wedding location where he and Shirley (Alger) Kaminski were married on July 7, 2007.
John was a past president of the Westfield Rotary Club, receiving two Paul Harris Awards and was a member for sixty-plus years. He was past director of the Westfield Chamber of Commerce and president of the Westfield Tennis Association. He enjoyed sailing, travel, golf and piloting his own airplane around the United States, the Bahamas, Mexico, Canada and to and from the Florida Keys – Islamorada. He was a member of First Congregational Church, 18 Broad Street, Westfield.
Calling hours will be held Thursday, January 16 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. and 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Firtion Adams Funeral Home, Broad Street, Westfield. A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 17, at 10:00 a.m. at First Congregational Church. Burial will be in Pine Hill Cemetery at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Westfield YMCA, 67 Court Street, Westfield, MA 01085 or The Boys and Girls Club of Westfield, 28 Silver Street, Westfield, MA 01085. Firtion Adams Funeral Service has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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