Glenda Lynn Hamilton Barrett, age 85, peacefully passed away the morning of Sunday, February 23, 2025 in Houston, Texas. Glenda was born in Liberal, Kansas on January 30, 1940, and grew up in Guymon Oklahoma.

She is survived by her daughters Leslie Barrett Roark and Liz Barrett Crosswell, sons-in-law Sean Roark and Mark Crosswell, grandchildren David, Bryant, Barrett, Markley, Jackson and Tommy, and great-grandchildren Addison, Marylin, Harrison and Clementine. Glenda is predeceased by her mother; Freda Roth Hamilton, her father, Lynn O. Hamilton, her younger brother, Gerald Hamilton, and her loving husband, Hugh Jackson Barrett.

A lifetime scholar, Glenda received her BA in French with a minor in English at the University of Oklahoma in 1962, where she was a proud Chi Omega. She studied French at the Universite de Caen, France on a Fulbright Fellowship in 1963 and received her masters in French and Linguistics from the American University in Washington DC on a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship in 1967. She continued her studies with later courses in nonprofit fundraising and leadership.

Glenda was a pioneer in the creation of and advocation for green spaces and parks in Houston. Her passion for everything green was infectious. She was always able to see the beauty in the world around her. Her passion led her to become a force to be reckoned with, creating greenspace and parks and saving trees in Houston and the surrounding area in her role as executive director of the Park People.

An accomplished public speaker, Glenda was able to convey her passion for parks and to convince her audience of her point of view. She had an amazing, self-effacing sense of humor, and a way of making everyone and anyone in her presence feel not only welcomed, but important and respected.

Glenda met the love of her life, Hugh, while at OU. They had a love story for the ages, and were really joined as one. They enjoyed jazz, sports, museums, reading, candlelight dinners, spending time with their daughters and friends, and lots and lots of silliness and laughter. They created an incredible life for themselves and for their girls.

A beautiful soul inside and out, Glenda was stunning and captivated any room she entered. In her later years, even as dementia took its hold, she continued to exude pure joy, happy to be with friends and family. Glenda was dearly loved by many and will be greatly missed.

A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, February 28th at 2pm at Klein Funeral Homes & Memorial, 16131Champion Forest Di, Spring, Tx 77379.