Jean Leone Glista

Jean Leone Glista, 82, of St. Petersburg, Florida, formerly of Indian Head, Maryland, passed away peacefully and entered Heaven with our God on August 19, 2026 with her daughter & caregivers at Menorah Life Samson Nursing by her side. She was born to Phil W. & Beth I. Shipe in Washington, DC where she graduated from Chamberlin Vocational High School. Through her love of baseball she met and married Russell A. Morris and they had three children together: Donna, Carrie, & Robert (Bobby). During her young adult years Jean (nicknamed Jeanie Beanie) was an active athlete enjoying and playing on a softball & volleyball team even while growing her family including during pregnancy. Jean even made the newspaper with 4 RBI’s during one of her softball games. Jean never hesitated to help others or do the right thing, as a young teen she cleaned up a vacant lot of trash and debris in Washington, DC in which the Mayor gave her a commendation. She would give rides and assist a deaf lady in obtaining her government subsidies and healthcare, and she always had neighborhood children under her care when their parents were working. Sadly her first husband, Russell, passed away leaving Jean a widow with three young children, this hardship did not stop Jean from caring for her family. Jean provided for her children by driving a school bus, mowing lawns, and delivering groceries for neighbors (long before Uber Eats became a thing!). Soon after while needing an axle repaired on her school bus, she met her second husband, Vince Glista, who owned and operated Vince’s Hitch & Welding Service. She and Vince married and he also had three (adult) children, Helen, Linda, & Susan. She and Vince grew their family by an additional five children, Vincent (Vinnie), Mary Ann, Phil (Andy), Walter, and Steven. Truly a “Yours, Mine, & Ours” family. Jean never took the easy way out and decided to relocate the family from the DC Metro Maryland area to the country in rural Indian Head, Maryland. The hard part entailed that she, her husband, & kids needed to clear the abandoned & dilapidated house on the 5 acre property and build a new home. After three plus years of weekends and summers camping, filled with sweat equity, the house was built and the move was made. While still raising her children, and as the last of the 8 children entered school, Jean decided it was time to “go back to work”, or should it be said “take a break”! She was hired as a CNC Machinist at Beretta USA, a firearms manufacturer in Accokeek, Maryland for approximately 20 years in which she received many accolades. Jean was also very mechanical, she could work on car & truck engines alongside any man, fix a broken appliance, and wrestle her teen sons to the ground (all in good fun)! After she retired from Beretta Jean enjoyed bowling, attending church, and taking time for herself. Sadly Jean again faced hardships when her son Vinnie passed away in 2005, and her husband passed in 2008, this led to her selling her home and moving in with her daughter & her family in Huntingtown, Maryland. After many cold winters she decided to move from her daughter’s “farmette” to the Sunshine State of Florida, joining her eldest daughter & her family. She enjoyed getting to know and spending time with her Florida grandchildren & great-grandchildren for the last 5 plus years. For a short time she lived independently, however upon a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and failing health she lived at Menorah Life Samson Nursing Center in St. Petersburg, FL, where she received exemplary care & love. Her daughter was always close by and was able to care for her alongside her health caregivers. As she was able she enjoyed participating in the activities that Menorah Life provided and everyone loved her constant bright smile. Whenever she was asked in passing, “how are you Jean?” she always replied with “I am blessed!”. Her great-grandbabies would frequently ask to go visit GG, she loved it when they brought her favorite snacks of watermelon or dark chocolate! The miles between her and her out of state (Virginia/Maryland) children did not stop the many visits along with other family & friends. Although diagnosed with Alzheimer’s she never forgot her family, friends, or caregivers’ names. 

Jean is survived by her children, Donna (Joe) Bailey, Carrie (Ronald) Jenkins, Robert (Becky) Morris, Mary (Aaron) Douglass, Phil “Andy” (Adrienne) Glista, & Steven (Victoria) Glista; Step-daughters, Linda (Glista) Horman & Susan (Glista) Dellinger. Many grandchildren & great-grandchildren. Twin sisters, Betty Lou Shipe & Bonnie Sue (Melvin) Humphries; many nieces & nephews. 

Jean is pre-deceased by her parents, Phil W. & Beth I. Shipe; 1st husband Russell A. Morris; husband Vincent Glista; son Vincent (Vinnie) Glista; son Walter Glista; step-daughter Helen (Glista) Camper; step-granddaughter Laurie Reggettz; brother Philip Shipe; sister Sonia (Shipe) Finnelle.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Menorah Life in Jean’s memory as they provided wonderful care not only to Jean but other residents whom she enjoyed knowing. A celebration of life will be held at a later date, her final resting place will be at the St. Charles Cemetery in Glymont (Indian Head), Maryland.