Granville Wilburn Gilstrap was born on June 11th, 1930 in Tyler, TX to Thomas William Gilstrap and Willie Leo Luther Gilstrap. He graduated from Tyler High School in 1948 and enlisted in the US Marine Corps in September of that year.
In July of 1954, while a student at The University of Texas, Gil married Martha Meredith “Mimi” Shillito of Birmingham, AL. They shared 43 wonderful years together before she passed away in 1997. After moving to San Angelo in 1998, he met and married Loren Gabriel Hopkins in June of 1999 while living at the Baptist Retirement Center. They enjoyed ten years of traveling and companionship before she passed away December of 2009.
Granville was a Marine combat veteran of five campaigns of the Korean War. He survived two amphibious assaults, was wounded in action, and in his later years suffered the results of frost bite sustained during the break out from the Chosin Reservoir in December 1950. He also served on the Board of Directors of “The Chosin Few,” an association of survivors of the Chosin Reservoir campaign, and also served as its Treasurer for two years.
In 1955, during his marriage with Mimi and following graduation from the University of Texas in Austin, he joined the television production staff at Purdue University, then later was on the faculty of the School of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida. He became a civilian employee of the US Army in 1964, then retired in 1990 as the Public Affairs Officer for Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He worked at Army posts in Texas (twice at Fort Sam Houston), Virginia (Fort Monroe and Fort Eustis), Washington D.C. (The Pentagon and the Army Corps of Engineers), and Georgia (Fort McPherson) during those 26 years of service.
He is preceded in death by his parents Thomas & Willie Gilstrap, his brother Marcus Dolan Gilstrap, his first wife Mimi, and his second wife Lorene.
Granville is survived by his loving extended family: His sister-in-law Bettie Gilstrap and his nieces, Rhondea Gilstrap, Marcia Gilstrap Michulka & her husband James, Nancy Shillito Porter of Danville, KY. and Peggy Kerr Shillito Lowery of Trussville, AL. He also had two great nieces, Shay Hyde of Lakeland, FL. Regina Kirby and her husband Geoff of Palm Harbor, FL. Granville had a great nephew, JD Vick & his wife Vicki of Lakeland, FL. Gil had five stepchildren: John Hopkins & wife Marcie of Arlington, TX; Jerry Hopkins of Plano, TX; Donna Kay Hopkins Starnes & her husband Bill of Hillsboro, TX; Russel Hopkins of San Antonio, TX; plus Mary Hopkins Pate & her husband Bill of Temple, TX. He also had four great-great nieces, six great-great nephews, and two great-great-great nieces, all of which live in Florida. Gil also had seven step-grandchildren, six step-great-grandchildren, plus numerous cousins and friends he called family. He was loved by many and will be missed by all.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Johnson’s Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 28th at 2 PM at the Baptist Retirement Community Chapel, located at 902 N Main St, San Angelo, TX 76903. The service will be officiated by Kevin McSpadden. Interment will occur on a later date at the Old Mobeetie Cemetery in Old Mobeetie, TX.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Baptist Retirement Community, or to St. Gabriel’s Hospice, in honor of Granville Gilstrap.
The family would like to personally thank all of the staff at The Crest, the Baptist Retirement Community, as well as the St. Gabriel hospice team.
