Glenn Allyn Burden

As an oak tree's age is measured in rings, so a man's life is measured by the ripple-effect he has on those around him. Glenn Allyn Burden was, to his core, a man of steadfast compassion and integrity, and he will remain a deeply rooted presence in the lives of his friends and family alike.

Born on September 30, 1942, in Dinuba, California, Glenn was the youngest and fourth son of Nelson and Opal Burden. His family moved to Newman, California, where his father managed a butcher shop, but they eventually wound up in Porterville, where Glenn's father and oldest brother, Bob, operated a small grocery store at Jones Corner. When he was young, Glenn fell sick with rheumatic fever, an illness which would cause him to miss a year of elementary school but would not keep him from playing baseball, his favorite sport. Later, Glenn attended Porterville High School from 1961 to 1965 and became the Freshman Class Representative and was actively involved in baseball.

After graduation, Glenn attended Porterville College and then Fresno State University where he received his BA in Industrial Arts. At college, Glenn also dabbled in crafts like woodworking, ceramics, and jewelry-making, hobbies that would later forge his love for antiques and art; and to support himself, he worked as a bus driver for elementary schoolers, a job that fortunately did not turn him off to the world of education.

In 1963 after a friend introduced them, Glenn fell in love with "the love of his life" Cleta Anderson, and later, even though Glenn told her he couldn't dance, Cleta asked him anyway to accompany her to the Blossom Day Dance. Cleta knew this was a special man, so she waited for him during his time in the Marine Corps, and after he was honorably discharged due to a blood clot in his leg, they courted and later married in a Carmel-by-the-Sea ceremony in January 1968.

Glenn-or "Mr. B," as his students called him-began his decades-long teaching career at Monache High School that same year. For every struggling student who didn't know what a half-inch looked like, "Mr. B" had a measuring tape and a lesson to share. "Mr. B" was one of the famous shop teachers who hung out in the "Boar's Nest," and when the administration went searching for a drafting and architecture teacher, "Mr. B" fit the bill perfectly. He retired from teaching at Monache High after 37 wonderful years of molding young minds and making sure they didn't cut off any fingers. He also taught drafting at Porterville College for several years toward the end of his career.

While some might count awards and titles amongst their greatest achievements, Glenn was known best for being the epitome of a hands-on father to his two children. From Little League Coach to Band Parent Association President to 4-H Community Leader to playing surrogate father to a Finnish foreign exchange student, Glenn spread his arms wide and embraced his children with support and love.

In retirement, Glenn loved traveling with Cleta and their close friends to many parts of the US, antiquing, renovating their 1937 home, and spoiling his granddaughters. Glenn passed away in Porterville, California, on January 14, 2025, at the age of 82.

Mourning his loss are Glenn's family: his wife of 57-years, Cleta Burden of Porterville; his daughter Heidii, son-in-law Larry, and granddaughters Sofie, Addie, and Eliza McMichael of Livermore, CA; his son Josh Burden and partner Amy Locke of Belgrade, MT. Glenn's extended family stretches from the Central Valley to Canada to Tampere, Finland, and his friends stretch around the globe. May the roots that Glenn and Cleta set down grow abundantly and remain blessed by the protective shade Glenn provided all the years he stood grounded on this earth.

A Graveside service will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Porterville, California on Monday, January 27, 2025 at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Tule River Parkway Association, ℅ Cathy Capone, 806 W. Westfield Avenue, Porterville, CA 93257. Donations can also be made online at

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=FWQ9NL8DFJRBQ

To share a memory, or express condolences to the family, please visit the obituaries section of our website at www.myersfuneral.com/obituaries <http://www.myersfuneral.com/obituaries>. Myers Funeral Service & Crematory in Porterville is in charge of arrangements.