Marilyn Abegg Glass

Marilyn Abegg Glass (née Woodson), 83, of Tyler, Texas, passed away on May 22, 2025, in Lincoln, Nebraska, with her loving son Chris, daughter Myra, granddaughter Jenna, and son-in-law Matthew by her side. Marilyn was born June 26, 1941, in Mission, Texas, to Rufus Otha and Miti Bernice Woodson (née Cole) and lived a life filled with love and dedication to her family, friends, and community.

Marilyn enjoyed an active and prosperous childhood in Corpus Christi, Texas, and graduated from WB Ray High School in 1959. After her freshman year at Texas Christian University where she joined Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, she transferred to the University of Texas at Austin and graduated in 1962 with a degree in Education. Her first job as an educator was as Principal for a Methodist Church kindergarten in Kingsville, Texas.

In 1973, she moved with her family to Nacogdoches, Texas, where she became a leader in several civic organizations including the Junior Forum, Parent Teachers Association, and the Chamber of Commerce. In 1980, she became Associate Director of Development for Stephen F. Austin University and then in 1984 she became Director Development for the Nacogdoches Chamber of Commerce. During her time in Nacogdoches, she made many dear lifelong friends and even had a fun side-gig in interior decorating called "Clutter Bugs."



In 1992, she moved to Tyler and became a civic leader specializing in fundraising strategy and management. She enjoyed a productive and rewarding career in Tyler from 1992-2022 where she and her talented colleagues and team helped many local and state-wide organizations in achieving their impact and fundraising goals. Her impact in Tyler began by helping successfully raise the money to renovate the historic Blackstone Building as a home for the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. Her final professional contribution involved playing a leading role in raising more than $100 million to bring a University of Texas Medical School to Tyler. She was the honoree for the Discovery Science Place's 25th anniversary Gala in 2022 and received a special achievement award for her contributions to the field of fundraising by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Through her life's journey, Marilyn shared love and companionship in three marriages. Her first marriage to Chester Allen (deceased in 2023) ended in 1982. She married Sydney Abegg in 1984 and shared life with him until his passing in 1997. In 2005, she married John Glass and shared life with him until his passing in 2015.

She is survived by son Chris Allen and wife Lesal; daughter Myra Sontheimer and husband Matthew; stepdaughter Katherine Abegg; granddaughter Jenna Allen and her mother Paula Allen; brother Dr. Ronald Woodson and his wife Judy; stepdaughter Sharah Johnson and her husband David; stepson Ken Glass and his wife Kelly; stepson Duel Glass; stepson Joel Glass and his wife Lorye; step-grandchildren Zane Johnson, Claire Carlson (née Johnson), Daniel Glass, Sarah Glass, Jake Glass, Andrew Glass, Julia Glass, and Olivia Glass; step-great grandchildren Elliot and Isaac Carlson.

A private ceremony will be held at Christ Episcopal Church in Tyler, Texas. A celebration of Marilyn's life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for remembrance donations to be made to either the Women's Fund of Smith County (PO Box 6965, Tyler, TX 75711) website: https://womensfundsc.org/pledge-payments/ or the UT Tyler Medical School (3900 University Blvd, Tyler TX 75701) website: https://uttyler.edu/give/glass