Building a Legacy in McMinn County

Glenn Trusley and his late wife, Thelma, shared a lifelong belief in the power of community. That deeply held value shaped their life together in East Tennessee and ultimately inspired Glenn to include a bequest in his will to the East Tennessee Foundation.

Glenn built a 40-year career in the automotive care industry, earning a reputation for treating everyone he served with dignity and respect. Thelma worked for three decades as a laboratory analyst at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Known for her discipline and foresight, Thelma believed in planning ahead and saving diligently. Together, they built a life grounded in responsibility, generosity, and compassion.

When Glenn began planning his estate, he wanted to honor the partnership that he and Thelma shared and continue their legacy of giving back. On the advice of his trusted professional advisor, he turned to ETF. With the Foundation’s guidance, Glenn established a bequest in his will to create a field-of-interest endowment. The Lee Glenn Trusley and wife, Thelma Coleman Trusley, Endowed Fund will support economically disadvantaged children in their beloved McMinn County.

The bequest allows Glenn to support a cause that he and Thelma were passionate about without affecting his immediate financial security. Most importantly, the endowment will support children at a local level for generations to come, as the endowment will be invested and managed by ETF in perpetuity.

“It’s a wonderful thing to see a child smile just because they have clean clothes and nourishing food,” Glenn said. “There are kids out there who need basic things to live, and I can help.”

Pictured above: Glenn & Thelma Trusley

Interested in learning more about planned giving? Reach out to us at et*@*tf.org