Canfield Jr., Glenn    

Funeral services for Glenn Canfield Jr., 70, of Longview, will be 3 p.m. Thursday, 
February 2, 2006, at Oakland Heights Baptist Church, with Pastor Tom Roberson 
officiating. Pallbearers include Mike Jennings, Hank Kastrop, Tom Mittler, Vince 
Dulweber, Neal Frey, and Steve Findley. Honorary pallbearers will be Louie Gohmert, 
Judge Bill Stout, and Brian Hughes. The family will receive visitors 6 p.m. this 
evening, February 1, 2006, at Welch Funeral Home. Mr. Canfield died Monday, January 
30, 2006, at his home, following a courageous battle with cancer. Born September 
20, 1935, in Springfield, Illinois, Glenn was the first-born child to Glenn and Ruth 
K. Canfield. He resided in Longview for more than 30 years, where he was a member of 
Oakland Heights Baptist Church. He was a "one-o-kind" guy who was always smiling and 
whose family meant the world to him. His parents, Glenn and Ruth; and his son, Glenn 
Canfield III, preceded him in death. He is survived by his loving wife, Virginia 
Davis Canfield of Longview; seven children, Derek Canfield of San Antonio, Charisse 
Bodisch of Round Rock, Cheryl Cerda, Sherry Dickson, Randy Dickson, Danny Dickson, 
and Tricia Dickson Brown, all of Longview; two siblings, Dr. John Canfield of 
Champaign Ill., and Juanita Canfield of Cincinnati Oh.; 11 grandchildren; 10 
great-grandchildren ranging from ages one-week to twenty-eight years; and a multitude 
of friends. Mr. Canfield joined the U.S. Navy on his seventeenth birthday and began 
active duty a few months later. While in the U.S. Navy, he finished high school and 
graduated with his class, while in full uniform. Earning the rank of Aviation 
Structural Mechanic Third Class, he also served in the Korean and China Sea areas and 
was discharged after the Korean War. He then started college and graduated with an 
associate degree in science from Springfield Junior College in 1957. He continued his 
college education at the University of Illinois and graduated in 1959 with a bachelor 
of science degree in metallurgical engineering, research option and started his career 
in the metal industry. He worked in the metals industry for the next 27 years. During 
that career, he worked in process research, quality control, operations management, 
site engineering, and development engineering. Having previously earned his license as 
a professional engineer by the State of Texas, he earned a masters of business 
administration from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1987. His works included pioneering 
work in powder metallurgy, fusion bonding of nuclear materials for reactors in Naval and 
Power Generation, early work in powdered nuclear materials now used in modern reactors, 
development of high energy compaction of high alloy powders, seamless extrusions, and the 
removal of oxygen from liquid steels. Becoming self-employed in 1986, Glenn formed the 
Plum Group, which publishes monthly reports to suppliers and users of steel industry 
products. He was also owner and president of Thermo Tech Co., a manufacturer of 
de-oxidation products for the steel industry. Mr. Canfield also held the seat of Chairman 
at Canfield Engineering, Inc., a consult team for metallurgical studies. He held two 
patents on de-oxidation products and methods. Having maintained an interest in political 
and economic issues since college, Mr. Canfield had been active in the Republican Party 
since 1958. He had been an active member of the Gregg County Republican Party since 1988, 
and served as party chairperson from 1991-2002. During his term, Republicans captured all 
but two of the county-wide offices. He also published a monthly newsletter, raised funds 
for the party, recruited winning candidates, mobilized volunteer efforts, assisted every 
Republican in winning general elections, and maintained an open office for the use of all 
auxiliaries. Mr. Canfield also served on the State Republican Executive Committee 
representing Senate District One, having been elected by the state convention in 1998 
and being unopposed at the 2000 state convention. In 2002, Glenn received the Seed Grower 
Award, a prestigious honor awarded to him for tremendous impact on the growth of the 
Republican presence in the area of the state. This award particularly touched him as the 
plaque was inscribed with the words, "well done thou good and faithful servant," from 
Matthew 25:21. He was an active member or supporter of the following groups: Gregg County 
Republican Women, Republican National Committee, National Senatorial Committee, secretary 
and treasurer of the Republican Club of Gregg County, National Congressional Committee, 
Presidential Task Force and Team Bush Leader, Cato Institute, Leadership Institute, National
Right To Life, National Right To Work, Texas Right To Life, Hillsdale College, Foundation for 
Economic Education, president and newsletter editor of East Texas Right To Life, Madison 
Project, Heritage Foundation, and lifetime member of VFW Post 4002. In his younger days, 
Glenn was a pitcher for a short while in the minor leagues and worked on a pit crew for 
Indy car racing. His hobbies included watching the Dallas Cowboy games and Nascar races, 
golfing, bowling, and going to the movies. Above all, Glenn was a family man; a faithful 
husband, a loving father and grandfather, and a loyal friend. Memorial contributions may 
be made to Right To Life of East Texas, P.O. Box 9294, Longview, TX 75608. An online 
registry may be signed at www.news-journal.com, by clicking on the obituaries link.

Published in the Longview News-Journal on 2/1/2006.