Grace Westbrook

Grace Westbrook was born on September 9, 1919 in San Antonio, Texas to Frank J. Bolner and Emma Giovanazzi Bolner. During her lifetime, she lived several places, but ultimately came back home to San Antonio.

Grace graduated from Incarnate Word High School and worked at her father's grocery store. She met Leonard Westbrook in 1943 at a dance at the Knights of Columbus Hall and on June 4, 1946, Leonard and Grace were married at Fort Sam Houston chapel in San Antonio.

In 1948, after the war, the couple moved to Denver, Colorado. While in Denver, Denise, Redge and Frances were born. Grace kept busy raising the children, helping at school and church and working part time for The May Company.

In 1953, Leonard retired as a colonel from the U.S. Air Force. The family moved to San Antonio, Texas in 1961, then to Lubbock, Texas in 1964. Grace worked for the City and County of Lubbock and for a local savings and loan as a bookkeeper. When the children graduated from college, Grace and Leonard moved to Austin, Texas, where they resided for close to 27 years. While in Austin, Grace worked part-time as a real estate broker. Leonard passed away February 20, 2001.

Grace was a very selfless person, with a deep belief in God, always putting her family first. She was an accomplished seamstress and a wonderful cook - preparing homemade meals and desserts. Grace loved her family and will remain an inspiration to her children, her grand children and to all who knew her.

Grace is survived by her three children and seven grand children: Denise and Don Barnhill, Jennifer, Ashley and Catherine Barnhill of San Antonio, Texas; Redge and Susanne Slay Westbrook, Bill Westbrook of Austin, Texas; Frances and Bill Owens, Monica, Mark and Brett Owens of Denver, Colorado. She is also survived by two sisters: Catherine Boggess and Lucille Cross of San Antonio, Texas, as well as several nieces and nephews, Terry Boggess Gouger, James Ray Cross, Frankie Cross and Alan Cross. Grace is preceded in death by her older sister, Christine Obriotti of San Antonio in 1989.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, 1355 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite C406, Denver, CO 80222.