Glenn Elbert Bailey, Sr., 75, of Leonardtown, MD, died on January 15, 2006 at his residence. Born on July 17, 1930 in Cattetsburg, Kentucky, he was the son of the late Everett and Cleo Bailey.

Mr. Bailey had a jovial personality and never meets a stranger. He made friends easily by speaking to them as if he had known them all his life. He grew up in McDowell County, West Virginia. At age 17 he left West Virginia to join the United States Army and served 15 years. Mr. Bailey was a Korean War Veteran. He received the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal with 3 loops, and the Army Occupation Medal (Japan).He met his wife Mary in 1959 in Germany. They were married in 1960 in the Walter Reed Medical Center Chapel. In 1966 he started work with Pepco. He retired after 29 years of service as the Senior Fuel Foreman at Chalkpoint Generating Station. He resided in Leonardtown since 1975. After coming to St. Mary’s County he became involved in Republican activities. He was responsible for the Republican Booth at the county fair and trade fair, always lending a hand in planning displays, as well as lending equipment and supplies. He was actively involved in many candidates’ campaigns before being elected twice to the Republican Central Committee. He worked diligently to increase the prominence of the Republican Party in St. Mary’s County. He was Vice President of the Republican Club of St. Mary’s. He was the Republican Man of the Year in 2003. He received the Outstanding Republican Award and was appointed to the Judicial Nomination Committee by Governor Erlich and was campaign manager S.B.R Clerk of Court in 2002. The Lincoln Dinner was one of his favorite events. He was a member of the American Legion, Elks, Moose Lodge, and the VFW. His hobbies included squirrel hunting, fishing, boating and playing poker.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Genevieve Bailey of Leonardtown, MD, a daughter, Sandra E. Redden of Leonardtown, MD, a son, Glenn E. Bailey, Jr. of Leonardtown, MD, a brother, Ralph Bailey of Lerona, WV, and two grandchildren, Ryan and Dana Redden. his extended family, Joseph, Debbie and Jennifer Lathroum, Brian (Trouble) Bowles and Ronnie and Terry Vause and their children Amanda, Crystal, and Emily. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one brother Roy Bailey.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. An American Legion prayer service will bet at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, January 19, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, MD. Reverend Michael Jones will officiate. Interment in follow in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, MD.

Pallbearers will be Ronnie Vause, Joe Lathroum, Robbie Stacey, Ryan Redden, Mike Stamm, and Steve Jarvis. Honorary Pallbearers will be Glenn Bailey, Jr. Carl Bailey, Bob Stacey, Sam Redden, Billy Bailey and Wayne Adkins.

Memorial contributions can be made to the American Legion, Post 221, P.O. Box 98, Avenue, MD 20609, VFW Post 2632, P.O. Box 86, California, MD 20619, Elks Lodge, B.P.O.E. # 2902, P.O. Box 277, Lexington Park, MD 20653, or Hospice of St. Mary’s Inc, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

'Mr. Republican' Glenn Bailey Dead
Bailey will be sorely missed,
say both parties in one voice

By Ahmar Khan

ST. MARY’S TODAY

LEONARDTOWN --- The political landscape of St. Mary’s County has lost much of its charm and color with the death of “Mr. Republican” Glenn E. Bailey Sr., 75, on Sunday, according to a cross-section of residents.

A jewel of a person, Bailey would fondly be remembered by family and friends for his respect for others, as a man of integrity with a remarkable sense of humor, and for his sense of service to country and community.

“Straightforward and honest,” were the two characteristics newly-appointed St. Mayr’s Circuit Court Judge Mike Stamm said he would always remember about Bailey. Stamm said he was very sad over his death and described him as a wonderful man. 

“Glenn always gave of himself and never asked anything for himself,” said St. Mary’s Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R. Golden Beach).

A highly-decorated Korean War veteran, who was twice elected to St. Mary’s Republican Party central committee, Bailey was born in Catlettsburg, Kentucky, on July 17, 1930. He grew up in McDowell County, W. Virginia and at age 17 left home to join the U.S. Army, where he served for 15 years.

For distinguished service to his county, he received the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal with 3 loops, and the Army Occupation Medal (Japan).

“He had so much love for children that he had an extended family,” said daughter Sandra Redden, 44.

And on Monday evening, twin sisters Crystal and Emily Vause, 10, daughters of Terry and Ronnie Vause, part of the extended family of Bailey, sat at his home with tears in their eyes as the family spoke about the departed man. Bailey would take the two girls and their elder sister Amanda Vause to McDonalds each Sunday, without fail.

“This past Sunday, my eldest daughter Amanda took Crystal and Emily to McDonalds (to honor his memory), even though there was food cooked at home,” said Terry Vause. Bailey’s daughter Sandra Redden remembered him as a very self sufficient man. “If he needed something he would go get it. If it wasn’t available he created it. If it wasn’t to his satisfaction, he modified it,” she said. “If he put his mind to something, you can bet it was a done deal.”

Bailey met his lifelong sweetheart Mary Bailey when the two were in Germany in 1959. “I was a nurse and he was a technician,” said Mary Bailey, fondly cherishing his memories. They married at the Walter Reed Medical Center Chapel in 1960.

Mary, whom Bailey regarded as his good luck charm at poker games, smiles at the sense of humor of her companion of nearly half century. She recalls the funny pictures he took of himself. “The man up there at the cemetery said he always made him laugh,” said Mary Bailey.

After retiring from the army, Bailey joined Pepco in 1966 and worked as the senior fuel foreman at Chalk Point Generating Station

“When you look for a father and grandfather in the dictionary, he’s your obvious choice of a picture to go with it,” said son-in-law Sam Redden.

Redden said his late father-in-law was a man who showed utmost respect to others and despised lies. “He made it clear that if my intentions were not honorable, he would set me straight,” he said.

After arriving in Leonardtown in 1975, Bailey became a Republican activist and helped in the campaigns of many candidates before twice being elected to the party’s central committee. His arrival gave a big boost to the local party.

Bailey was regarded by friends as a jovial person who would make any person who talked to him feel as if he had known him all his life.

“He was a very good friend,” said top lawyer Shane Mattingly. “Bailey was one of the people who made St. Mary’s County proud by their service to the community,” he said.

His work for the party won him the Republican Man of The Year Award in 2003.
 “He was the backbone of the Republican Party,” said Don O’Neal, a party stalwart and chief of the local retired teachers association.

Bailey was the Republican Club vice chairman and the Lincoln Dinner fundraiser was one of his favorite events.

“On a personal level I feel like lost not only a friend but someone who has been like an uncle to me,” said Sean Powell, who had known Bailey for four or five years. He served with Bailey in 2002 on the party’s central committee. “It is a great loss to the county,” Powell said.

“He will be sorely missed in the community and especially in the Republican Party of which he was a faithful supporter,” said Samuel T. “Tom” Haynie, the party’s current central committee chairman in St. Mary’s County. He paid tributes to Bailey for his tireless work for building the party from scratch in the county.

But avowed Democrats said Bailey’s exit was an equal loss for them too.

“He would listen to both sides, Republican and Democrats,” said Sal Raspa, board of education chairman. who is also a former Democratic Central Committee Chairman
.
“He was a man’s man,” said Danny Morris, former state attorney criminal investigator. Both Raspa and Morris said the welfare of the entire community was closest to Bailey’s heart.

Jarboe said Bailey would be sorely be missed by anyone who cares about the working man in the county.

Bailey led a rich and vigorous social life. He was a member of the American Legion, Elks, Moose Lodge, and the VFW. His hobbies included squirrel hunting, fishing, boating and playing poker.

He is survived by his wife Mary, his daughter Sandra Bailey Redden, son Glenn E. Bailey Jr, a brother, Ralph Bailey of Lerona, WV, and two grandchildren, Ryan and Dana Redden. His extended family members are Joseph, Debbie and Jennifer Lathroum, Brian (Trouble) Bowles and the Vauses. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother Roy Bailey.