Glen Everette DeSpain

Glen Everette DeSpain, 76, entered the presence of his Lord and Savior on February 13, 2025. 

Glen was born July 30, 1948, to Cecil Everette DeSpain and Mary Louise (Yoakum) DeSpain in Oklahoma City, OK. He had one brother, Leon Marshall DeSpain.

Glen grew up in Oklahoma City, where he attended Hawthorne Elementary, Classen Junior High, and graduated from Classen High School in 1966. Glen went on to earn an associates degree in Police Science from Oklahoma State University in May 1996. He also received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Central Oklahoma in December 1997, then his Master’s of Liberal Studies degree from the University of Oklahoma in December of 2003. He was a longtime member of Council Road Baptist Church where he played the clarinet in the orchestra for 43 years.

Glen met the love of his life Diana Lynn (Mallow), on a blind date, on November 5, 1972. The two were inseparable from that day on and were married October 5, 1973 enjoying 51 years of marriage. Together they have three children, Amber Michelle, Chad Everette & Jeremy Ryan, seven grandchildren and two great-grand girls. 

Between two different branches of the military, Glen proudly served his country for 31 years: serving 18 years with the Air National Guard and 13 years with the Army National Guard, where he played with the 145th Army Band called "The Governors Own".

On July 8, 1970, he was sworn in as an Oklahoma City Police officer. During his career he served as a patrolman for seven years until 1977 when he was promoted to Detective in the Robbery-Homicide Division. After 20 distinguished years as a Detective, he transferred to the OCPD Training Facility as an instructor until his retirement on August 31, 2000.

Never one to sit still, after retirement Glen took a position with the United States Marshals Service, flying on Con-Air before beginning a second career as an Investigator for the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office, where he served from October 2001 until December 2013. Upon his second retirement, Glen stayed busy by working uniformed security jobs and enjoyed helping Diana with her real estate business. He never complained that he was too busy and always had a smile on his face.

Through the example he set, both in his personal life and in his distinguished career, he modeled a strong work ethic, upstanding character, good morals, respect, positivity, and dedication, for his children and all those who looked up to him. 

During Glen’s life he enjoyed taking motorcycle trips with friends and family. He looked forward to nice weather, when he would take his 2002 Saleen Mustang S281 Supercharged Speedster or 2012 Corvette Grand Sport Wide Body for a spin, or to a car show to meet with other retired officers, friends, and family. Glen loved taking ski trips, cruises, and numerous camping trips in their RV across state parks in Oklahoma. He loved Tuttle Tiger football, University of Oklahoma football, and St. Louis Cardinals baseball. However, the thing Glen enjoyed most of all was attending everything from cheerleading competitions to sporting events on the baseball, football, and softball fields watching his grandchildren. Many nights, you would find him shuffling between fields, ensuring he never missed a single game. He was so dedicated that even when unable to attend in person, he would stream the games and competitions at home on his iPad or television . Glen was everyone’s Biggest Fan!

Glen is survived by his wife of 51 years, Diana DeSpain; daughter Amber Lambrecht and husband Sheldon, son Chad DeSpain and wife Lisa; son Jeremy DeSpain and wife Megan; seven grandchildren: Bailey Litterell and husband Connor, Meagan Lambrecht, Charlie Malone, Case DeSpain, Jake DeSpain, Cori DeSpain, Coda DeSpain; two great-grand girls, Harper and Kollins Litterell; brother Leon DeSpain; stepsister Jackie Sommer; nephews, Craig DeSpain and wife Sharon and Kevin DeSpain and wife Wendy; Great nieces and nephews: Sydney Parker and husband Jack, Craig DeSpain Jr, Madison, Aiden and Gabe DeSpain; Cousins: Carole Rice and husband Johnnie, Cathryn DeSpain, Kathi DeSpain, Ricky DeSpain and wife Kim; along with many extended family and many life long friends including Debbie Rice. 

Glen is preceded in death by his parents Cecil DeSpain and Mary DeSpain; Grandparents: Nellie and Marshall DeSpain, William Yoakum, and Lois Irene Harden; parents-in-law Ronald Mallow and wife Nedra and Ima Jean Cowan and husband Lee; and sisters-in-law Dena Moutray and Ruth DeSpain.

Services will be held in the chapel at Southern Hills Baptist Church 1 pm Friday, February 21, 2025 with Oklahoma City Police Department Honors. Following the service, burial will take place in Lindsay, OK with Military Funeral Honors.

In his final days, Glen was lovingly cared for by his wife, children, and Centric Home Health and Hospice. The family would like to extend a special thank you to his oncology teams at Stephenson Cancer Center and Oklahoma Cancer Center.