William Glenn Workman, 79, retired Episcopal priest, died today at his home in Madisonville, Ky. His maternal grandparents were Herbert and Effra Niese Ligon.

After graduation from Madisonville High School where he was in the marching band and on the championship debate team he attended Western State University transferring to Transylvania University, where he graduated cum laude. He was an accomplished pianist and sang solo tenor often in the acapella choir. He and his future wife, Carolyn Eileen Chenoweth of Indianapolis, were recruited from Transy to sing in the choir of Christ Church, Lexington, where they were paid $10 a month. Although he had grown up in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the liturgy and music of the Episcopal Church appealed to them.

His goal was the ordained ministry and his hope was to attend Union Theological Seminary in New York City. After being confirmed in the Episcopal church he was accepted as a postulant for ordination by the late Bishop of Lexington, William R. Moody, and recruited to attend the Episcopal Seminary in Kentucky, reactivated. He and three other men were the first class. Bill was ordained priest in Lexington, where he served at Christ Church under Dr. James W. Kennedy, and also as chaplain to the Canterbury Club at the University of Kentucky.
After Dr. Kennedy was called to the Church of the Ascension in NYC, he asked Bill to be his assistant there. Bill furthered his education at General Seminary. From serving as rector of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Falmouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, he was asked by the Very Rev. Frances B. Sayre, Dean, to be Canon Precentor of the Washington National Cathedral during the decade of the 60's. The Workmans represented the Diocese of Washington in 1962 at the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral which was bombed during WWII. They met the Queen of England and stayed a night in Lambeth Palace, the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
He marched for civil rights with Dr. Martin Luter King, Jr. in Selma, Alabama and arranged the service the service in April 1968, which was the last time Dr. King preached there. In 1966 Canon Workman and the cathedral choir of men and boys were invited to Westminster Abbey, London, England, to sing and conduct services during the 900th anniversary year while the Abbey Choir was on a two week Easter holiday. He participated in televised Christmas celebrations of the cathedral and was responsible for planning special services including state memorials and funerals.

As Director of Development for Maryland Public Broadcasting, and assisting in various parishes he recieved a Master's Degree from Johns Hopkins University. He was chaplain to St. Paul's School for Boys and assistant to the rector at Old Saint Paul's Parish in Baltimore.

On his return to Kentucky to be near his ill mother, he served as an interim minister in Evansville, Indiana, Henderson, Kentucky and in the Lutheran church in Madisonville. When in good health, he enjoyed reading, cooking and his labrador retrievers. He was very proud of the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren.

Surviving are his former wife, Carolyn of Baltimore; sons, Randall of Madisonville Kentucky, Glenn of Columbia, Maryland, Daniel of Jacksonville, Florida, and daughter, Rebecca of Baltimore. Also grandsons Corey of Louisville, Evan of New York City and Jacob of Jacksonville, and granddaughters Kalen of Columbia, Danielle and Amber of Green Cove Springs, Florida, and Camille of New York City. Caregiver-Clyde York, Madisonville, Ky.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Madisonville-Hopkins Co. Public Library. Or, Hopkins County Humane Society. There will be PRIVATE Memorial services at a later date. No visitation. Harris Funeral Home in Madisonville, Ky. will be handling the arrangements.

written by: Carolyn C. Workman