Business Owner, Halloween Parade Founder Dies

In October, Charlie Glaze rode proudly atop a float in . It's an event he co-founded 65 years ago as a small-town celebration and today has grown to attract thousands of people from across Fairfax County.

But Glaze didn't just build one of Vienna's most treasured traditions -- he also helped shape much of the town itself: As the founder of the Vienna Glass Company, he helped build Vienna Woods and many of the town's office buildings and schools.

All of those places lost a touch of old time Vienna on Saturday, when Glaze died at INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital. He was 87.

Friends and family are invited to a celebration of Glaze's life from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at , 171 W. Maple Ave. Services will be held at 11:30 a.m. March 1 at , 711 Spring Street SE. Interment will immediately follow at National Memorial Park in Falls Church.

Glaze, who lived in Vienna for more than 50 years, began his life not far from the town he'd eventually call home. He was born on August 5, 1924 in Washington, D.C. to the late Charles L. and Eugenia Liewald Glaze.

He joined the Navy and served in World War II before opening the Vienna Glass Company in 1954 on Church Street.

The business grew and so did his involvement in many parts of Vienna life, from the work he did with the company to organizing and volunteering with Madison High School's early sports programs. He was also an active member of the Wesley United Methodist Church.

Along with his wife of 67 years, Margaret "Peggy" Glaze, Glaze raised four children in Vienna: Ron, Peggy, Kathi and Rick, many of whom would return to or stay close to Vienna as they grew older.

When Glaze retired, he turned the family business over to his two sons, Ron and Rick, and his son-in-law, Scott Williams (husband of his daughter Kathi). Grandon Nathan Williams also joined the business to run the shower department.

Last fall, the Glaze's closed the flagship store in Vienna but still serve customers in town from their location in Manassas. He was honored at this year's Halloween Parade as a Grand Marshall.

Aside from his wife, Glaze is survived by his children Ron (Ana) Glaze of Manassas, Peggy Ann (Bob) Colgin of Chesapeake, Kathi (Scott) Williams of Woodbridge and the late Rick Glaze and his wife Mary Ellen Glaze of Lake Anna, along with his brother Allen Glaze of Fairfax. He was also the "proud grandfather" of 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

"His joy in life was his family and he was dearly loved by all," his family wrote in his obituary.

The family suggests that memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, Autism Speaks, National Vaccine Information Center, or Johns Hopkins University, please specify food allergy research.

The full obituary and guestbook can be found here.