Billy Glenn Cumbie

Billy Glenn Cumbie, formerly of Columbia, Missouri, passed away July 7, 2025, at the age of 95, while a resident of the Breeze Park Senior Living Facility in Weldon Spring, Missouri.

He was born on March 21, 1930, to John Jordan and Gladys Cumbie (née Anderson) in Dickens, Texas. He married Marlene Waggoner from Spur, Texas, in 1951. She preceded him in death in 2013 after 62 years of marriage.

Billy Glenn was a graduate of the Dickens High School in 1947 where he was class president and valedictorian.

He graduated from Texas Tech University in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science degree and in 1952 with a Master of Science in Botany.

He served his country during the Korean War in the 10th Infantry Division, Company A, 86th Infantry. However, due to his scientific background he did not see combat, but was sent to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., to do research on tropical diseases.

In 1960 he received his PhD in Botany from the University of Texas. In 1961 Billy Glenn began what would be a 60 year career as a professor of Botany at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He retired from full-time teaching in 1996, only to continue teaching a readings course for the next 25 years, retiring permanently in 2021. He was fortunate to be able to do what he loved. He often said that “university professors were some of the happiest people.” This was definitely true of him.

Billy Glenn became a life long fan of the St. Louis Cardinals when he was a student at the University of Texas. He could get KMOX on the radio in Austin, Texas.

He enjoyed going to Mizzou basketball and football games. When the Mizzou basketball team played Kansas in 1989 he was an honorary coach and was able to join the team huddles. When the Mizzou football team played Texas Tech in 2003, Sonny Cumbie, the grandson of one of Billy Glenn’s cousins, played for Texas Tech. Someone asked him who he was going to root for. He replied, “MU - they pay my salary!”

Other interests included fishing and coaching his sons’ little league baseball teams. He went to annual botanical conferences throughout the country and spent significant time researching his mother’s Swedish ancestry. Billy Glenn and Marlene were long time members of Memorial Baptist Church.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, and was the last of his 3 siblings: John Cumbie, Jr., Arnel Rhea Cumbie, and Sue Farley. Besides his family he was the last of his boyhood friends from Dickens: R.C. Littlefield, Carlton Dodson and Kenneth Street. He enjoyed going to the Dickens High School reunions where he would visit with everyone.

He is survived by his children: Patricia (John) Broadfoot, Douglas Glenn (Debbie) Cumbie and John Scott (Kathy) Cumbie. In addition, he is survived by 4 grandchildren: Katelyn (Michael) Glaze, Natalie Cumbie, John Robert ‘Jack’ Cumbie and Joanna (Riley) Bennett and 4 great grandchildren who delighted everyone at Breeze Park when they came to visit him: Atticus, Phineas, Silas, and Estelle Glaze.

The Cumbie family would like to express our gratitude to the staff of Aspen Woods, the memory care area in Breeze Park. His last years were lived with dignity. He received exceptional care and kindness by all.