Glenn Joseph Poulter
Marriages
Rusty Poulter
Obituaries
Steamboat Today - May 2, 2010
On April 18, 2010, longtime Steamboat Springs resident Glenn Joseph Poulter died peacefully, with his family by his side, in Port Townsend, Wash. He was 83 years old.
Glenn was born in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, on March 1, 1927, to Thomas Charles and Phoebe Esther (Ganoe) Poulter. Glenn completed high school in LaGrange, Ill., and after serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, attended the Colorado School of Mines, where he received his geological engineering degree. As a geologist, he worked in Venezuela, British Columbia and North Africa, as well as West Texas, the Appalachians and Rocky Mountains.
Glenn met his wife, Rusty, in Yellowstone National Park, and they spent the first two years of married life in Princeton, N.J., where he completed his Ph.D. in geology. He retired from the corporate world as a professional geologist while in North Africa and decided to move to Steamboat Springs. Glenn and Rusty had a great love for the mountains and the outdoors. They bought a ranch near Steamboat and developed Bear Pole Ranch, which they operated for nearly 25 years as a children’s camp, wilderness school and ski lodge.
They also led adventure trips to the Alps of Austria and Himalayas of Nepal. During the early years in Steamboat, Glenn taught geology and physics at Colorado Alpine College and served as dean of faculty and dean of students. While in the camping field, he served on the National Board of Directors for the American Camp Association and as president of the Rocky Mountain Section. Glenn was a loyal and active member of the congregation and choir at First United Methodist Church in Steamboat for 30 years.
After his storied career as a camp director, for eight years, Glenn was manager of business development for TIC in Steamboat. In 1996, Glenn and Rusty moved to Arizona where they lived for 10 years. After Rusty’s death in 2006, Glenn moved back to his beloved Steamboat. In 2009, Glenn moved to Port Townsend to be near his eldest daughter and grandchildren. While in Port Townsend, Glenn attended First Presbyterian Church and was a member of the chancel choir.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Debbie and Jack Reid, and grandchildren Jessica, John and Emily Reid, of Port Townsend; his son and daughter-in-law Craig and Laurie Poulter, and grandson Nathan Poulter, of Centennial; his son Jay Poulter, of Colorado; and his daughter Laura Poulter and grandson Tavian Poulter Parks, of Brooklyn, N.Y.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Glenn J. Poulter is at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 26, 2010, at United Methodist Church of Steamboat Springs. A reception will follow at the old Bear Pole Ranch (Euzoa) in Strawberry Park. Memorial contributions can be made in Glenn’s name to the American Camp Association, Charitable Giving, 5000 State Road 67 North, Martinsville, IN 46151-7902.
