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Born in Blackwell, Oklahoma on May 22, 1940 as Royce Ann Young, she was the first child of Ruth Lillian Clementine Gould Young and Ray Arthur Young, Sr. Both parents came from Oklahoma; her mother was a High School biology teacher in Santa Fe, Texas; and, her father was a World War II veteran who worked as a union pipe fitter in the Texas City oil refineries. Royce Ann was raised in Texas City and graduated from Texas City High School.
While attending the University of Texas in Austin in the late 1950’s, she met and fell in love with a mechanical engineering student, Teddy G. Glidden of La Marque, Texas. They were married on June 18, 1960 and until his death in January 2002. They first resided in Nederland, Texas where Royce Ann and Ted had two children, a daughter, Shannon M. Glidden, and a son, Rowan G. Glidden. In 1966 the family moved to South Texas, eventually settling in Kingsville, where she lived and raised her family until Ted passed away in 2002. In 2003, Royce Ann moved to Texas City, Texas to be closer to family; and, then in December 2006 she moved to Plano to live nearby her daughter Shannon.
While her children were in high school Royce Ann decided to finish her college degree, and eventually graduated from Texas A&I University with a degree in elementary education. She taught Kindergarten for a few years, and then changed to early childhood special education at Lamar Elementary School. She loved working with children with handicaps and did so until her retirement from Kingsville ISD. After several years of teaching she was honored as an outstanding woman educator with an invitation to join The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.
Royce Ann loved reading and collecting literature. Her last days were spent listening to the seven Harry Potter books, when she could no longer hold a book. Royce Ann was an avid Girl Scout in her youth as well as a Girl Scout leader as an adult, and she has a life-time membership in the Girl Scouts of America. She was an active member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Kingsville, Texas and in Texas City, Texas, serving in leadership and educator roles for many years. Royce Ann loved gardens and belonged to various garden clubs. She loved music and was a long time member of the church choir in Kingsville and for a time a member of Sweet Adelines women’s chorus.
Royce Ann was preceded in death by her husband Ted, both parents, and a younger brother, Dr. Ray A. Young, Jr. She is survived by her sister Ruby I. Gressett of New Braunfels, Texas; her daughter Shannon M. Glidden now of Plano, Texas; her son and daughter-in-law Rowan G. and Francie M. Glidden now of Bel Air, Maryland; her grandson Troy Connor Glidden of Bel Air, Maryland; and nieces and nephews.
Royce Ann donated her body for research to a local medical school. A memorial service will be held on September 15, 2007 at 3:00 p.m., at Disciples Christian Church, located at 2001 Independence Parkway, Plano, Texas 75075. Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (Alpha State Building Fund), P.O. Box 797787, Dallas, TX 75379-7787; First Christian Church, 813 15th Street, Plano, TX 75074; U. U. of Fallston Church P.O. Box 258, Fallston, Maryland 21047-0258; or, The Highlands School Development Department, 2409 Creswell Road, Bel Air, Maryland 21015 (Troy’s school).