Glenda Lee Johnson Shamburger, age 77, died peacefully, held by her family, on November 21, 2019 in Austin, Texas, after a courageous battle with Myelodysplasia Syndrome.
 
She was born on August 2, 1942 to Wallace and Edith Johnson in El Paso, Texas. The family moved frequently around New Mexico when Glenda was a young girl to Las Cruces, Alamogordo, Hope, and Otis.  In 1950, her father started a dairy farm in Artesia, New Mexico where she graduated from Artesia High School in 1960. Glenda attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas where she earned her
Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree. She married Carl Shamburger on March 29, 1964 inLubbock, Texas. They made their home in Levelland, Texas, where they lived for 40 years, raising four children, Paul, Daryn, Christy and Julie. Glenda’s passion was teaching, and she devoted her career to education as a Professor of Reading and Education for 22 years at South Plains College in Levelland. While at SPC, the students awarded her the MLK Spirit of Community Award for her support of inclusion and diversity.

Glenda took her role as a Catholic seriously. Not only did she engage in a lifelong study of her faith, but she lived it out in all aspects of her life. Glenda was active in her Parish at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Levelland where she taught confirmation for over 25 years. Uncommon for many women at the time, she was invited to study with the Permanent Deacons to train as a Commissioned Parish Minister in 1998 through the Diocese of Lubbock. In 2007 Carl and Glenda were invested into The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, an honorary organization whose mission is to preserve the Christian sites in the Holy Land and build schools for Christian children as well as Jewish and Muslim children. In 2009 Pope Benedict awarded Glenda the highest honor given to a layperson for her distinguished service to the Catholic Church.
 
Glenda and Carl moved to Austin in 2012 to be near their grandchildren. At 70 years of age she joined the faculty at Austin Community College as Assistant Professor of Developmental Reading. As a testament of Glenda’s lifelong mentorship to many and her
strong determination to instill confidence in those with doubt her students honored Glenda with the ACC Medallion award.

A highlight of Glenda’s life was singing tenor in the choir at church. She was an enthusiastic and accomplished cook, especially through her involvement in a Gourmet Club. Her children hold dear the home-cooked meals Glenda tirelessly put on the table every evening.

Glenda was an avid reader and took great joy in her beloved collection of books. Glenda also spent many happy hours in her sewing room, sometimes losing all track of time in her latest project. Quilting was her passion in her later years, and she enjoyed making blankets for the Children of Hope organization. Glenda had a deep love for animals, and she gave each family pet a proper farewell by praying the Prayer of St. Francis, recognizing the dignity of that living creature.

Glenda is survived by her husband Carl, of 56 years, their four children: Paul of Dallas, Daryn of Levelland, Christy of Austin, Julie and her husband Joe Joyce of Boulder, Colorado, three grandchildren: Trixie and Edie Moossy of Austin, and Josie Joyce of Boulder, two brothers: Ron Johnson and his wife Jan of New London, CT and Randy Johnson and his wife Sherry of Abilene, TX. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wallace and Edith Johnson, and her oldest brother Myron Johnson

The funeral Mass will be celebrated in Austin, Texas at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 5455 Bee Cave Road on December 6, 2019 at 2:00PM. Interment will be in the Columbarium at the church. A celebration of life will be held at the family’s home
immediately following.

In lieu of flowers please pledge to donate blood or platelets on behalf of Glenda to honor her courageous fight against MDS at http://sleevesup.redcrossblood.org/campaign/sleevesup-for-leelee-glenda-shamburger/ or make a donation in honor of Glenda for literacy at https://literacytexas.org/donate/

In lieu of flowers make your pledge to donate blood or platelets here