Glennon Robert Nester
Obituary

Glennon “Glen” Robert Nester, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, veteran, engineer, and man of deep faith, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on December 23, 2025, at the age of 78.

Born on February 3, 1947, Glen was the son of Arline V. Nester and Frank F. Nester. He graduated from Thousand Oaks High School in 1965, where he was an accomplished student and athlete. Shortly after graduation, he answered the call to serve his country, enlisting in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. He served aboard the USS O’Brien as part of Operation Sea Dragon, graduating at the top of his boot camp class and completing four years of honorable service. Though much of his wartime experience was too difficult to revisit, Glen carried a lifelong sense of duty, patriotism, and reverence for those who did not return—especially two close friends whose sacrifice deeply shaped his life.

Following his military service, Glen pursued a distinguished career in engineering. His academic training included studies in systems engineering at Caltech, applied physics and nuclear theory at the U.S. Naval Nuclear Power School, and aircraft maintenance technologies through Northrop and the University of Arizona. He went on to serve as a test engineer at Northrop Grumman, where he spent the majority of his career working as a lead engineer on the B-2 bomber and other highly classified projects. While unable to share details of his work, he often expressed profound gratitude and honor in contributing to efforts that helped protect the United States. He retired from Northrop Grumman after decades of service, frequently reflecting that his greatest professional joy was working alongside “some of the most brilliant people I’ve ever met.”

In 1967, Glen married the love of his life, Patricia Joan Santori, on November 25. Together they built a marriage rooted in faith, partnership, and service. They raised two children, Robert Shaun Nester and Kathleen Nicole Nester, and later delighted in their four grandchildren: Ashley Waters, Brandon Astourian, Mackenzie Mercier, and Brady Mercier. He was especially proud of his oldest grandson, who followed in his footsteps by joining the United States Navy and pursuing a career in aviation as a helicopter mechanic, working toward earning his pilot’s license—a legacy of service and love of flight that brought Glen great joy and pride. Glen was also a proud father-in-law to Zach Mercier and a beloved brother to Chuck Nester, brother-in-law to Karen Nester, and uncle to nephews Joshua and Jason Nester.

Faith was central to Glen’s life. He was a founding member of Church on the Way with Pastor Jack Hayford and later worshipped at Ventura Foursquare Church and Journey Church AV. In the 1970s, he and Patricia taught the Bradley Method of natural childbirth and led home fellowship groups, opening their home to strengthen the faith of others in Jesus Christ. His faith guided both his personal life and his service to the community.

Glen remained deeply committed to veterans and civic service throughout his life. He served as a founding board member of AV Wall in 2009 and was honored to attend its final salute on Veterans Day 2025 in Palmdale, California. He also volunteered with Point Man AV, continuing his lifelong advocacy for veterans—especially those whose service during Vietnam had not been fully recognized or welcomed upon their return.

Beyond his professional and civic accomplishments, Glen lived with curiosity, creativity, and precision. He was meticulous in all he did—so immersed in the process of design and improvement that projects were sometimes left unfinished, simply because he believed there might always be a better way. He loved construction projects at home, restoring classic cars such as his 1964 Corvette, and enthusiastically modifying his 2021 Mustang. In his early adult years, he earned his private pilot’s license and flew Cessna aircraft and small helicopters. He enjoyed golf, tennis, James Bond films, photography—especially of the Eastern Sierras—and spent countless vacations in Mammoth Lakes and June Mountain skiing, hiking, and capturing nature through his lens.

Music was one of Glen’s great joys. A devoted audiophile, he believed music should sound as though the artist were live in the room. His passion for high-fidelity sound was inseparable from his love of listening, reflecting, and sharing moments with family.

In 1991, Glennon moved his family to Palmdale, California, following the closure of Northrop Grumman’s Newbury Park facility. Palmdale remained his home in later years.

Glen was most proud not of his accolades, but of his children and grandchildren—and of living by a simple principle displayed on a poster in his garage: Everything you need to know, you learned in kindergarten. He believed kindness, integrity, and caring for others were both the easiest and hardest things to live by—and he tried to do so every day.

He will be remembered for his quiet strength, unwavering faith, deep patriotism, and enduring love for his family. His life was one of service, sacrifice, and purpose—and his legacy lives on in those he loved and the many lives he touched.