James Walker Guilfoil

James Walker Guilfoil, born on August 13, 1933, died at age 86 at his home in Seguin, Texas on May 14th, 2020. Jim was the second child of 10 with one brother, Tim, and 8 sisters: Betty, Lyda, Besse, Ginny, Mollie, Pattie, Amelia and Becky born in Athens, Kentucky. His parents, Huelett Asher and Virginia Brackett Guilfoil, raised Jim and he learned to work hard growing up in Pike Township just outside of Indianapolis, Indiana. Jim worked on the farm as a kid and drove a tractor before he was old enough to legally drive. He was active in sports at Pike High School, most noted for his hurdling accomplishments. He joined the U.S. Army in 1953 and toured in Germany in post WWII.

He fell in love with Patty, Patricia Ann Cook who he met on a blind double date and they got married in June of 1956 soon after returning from military service, and they settled in New Augusta in Pike Township to raise a family. They had two children, Dean Allen and Sheryl Lynne Guilfoil, and raised them in Indiana. Jim owned and operated Guilfoil’s Phillip 66 gas station and mechanic repair shop on the corner of Coffman Road and 71st Street in Indianapolis. He was popular in the community and beloved because he was known to care for his customers.

Jim was a first-responder and served the community as a volunteer fire fighter for over a decade and drove a school bus for the local school. Early in their marriage Jim and Patty drove through Austin, Texas on the way to vacation in Acapulco Mexico and fell in love with Austin and said to each other if they ever moved away from Pike Township in Indiana, they would move to Austin. Jim loved country music and drove to Luckenbach, Texas after hearing Willie and Waylon make the song famous. Finally, in 1979, Jim closed his Philips 66 station and started a new season of life moving to Round Rock, Texas. He opened Bull Creek Automotive on FM 2222 close to Ranch Road 620 in Austin and operated that business for many years before retiring.

Jim and Patty’s children gave them 7 grandchildren and to date, 10 great grandchildren. His son, Dean, married Sheri Tumey and they had two daughters: Sarah and her husband, Shane, have two sons, Todd and Tucker; Allison and husband, Jeff, have one son, Gideon Walker. Sherry married David Dalgleish and they had five daughters: Amber and her husband, Ryan, and have three daughters, Evelynn and identical twins Emily and Audrey who were born the same morning before Jim passed; Abigail and her husband, Ryan, have Ashlynn and August; Amanda and her husband, Crawford, have Hudson and Harper; Anna and her husband, Josh, live in Houston; and Asher and husband, Joe, live in Austin. Jim lost Patty in 1991 after being married for almost 35 years.

A few years later Jim met a wonderful woman Dee, Delores Brockman, also on a blind date, and they were married for almost 25 years. Dee and Jim traveled extensively. Jim loved to drive, and they drove across the country to visit family and explore the countryside together including Route 66 and several trips back and forth to Alaska on the Alaska Highway. One of their most memorable trips was to Ireland when they were able to visit the hometown of Jim’s grandparents in Tipperary, Ireland. Dee has 3 daughters, 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren who Jim loved and was a great grandpa to. Sandy and husband, Mike, have granddaughter Amber and husband James and granddaughter Shyra who is due any day with what will be their 4th great grandchild. Lutricia and husband, Ben, have granddaughter Melanie, and granddaughter Samantha and husband, Rody, who have 3 great grandchildren: Raelynn, Fiona, and Jinx. Becky and husband, Adolph, have one grandson, Matthew, and granddaughters Michelle and Melinda and husband, Cole. All together Jim and Dee have 5 children, 14 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren with one more on the way!

Jim grew up Methodist and was a very warm and generous man to everyone he met. He was a gentle and kind man that was purposeful in all he did. His grandchildren loved him because he always took an interest in their lives. Jim had said that he considered his life the most wonderful of anyone who lived and he was the most lucky and blessed man in the world for all the experiences he had! We all were lucky and blessed to have him with us and we all will miss Jim!