George Eli Berry

George Eli Berry, 84, passed away Wednesday, June 1, 2016. His loving wife of 60 years, Wilma, was at his side. He was a beloved husband, father, uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather, known to his family as "Papa!"

We cannot begin to list all the things he taught us, but his biggest lesson was "get to work!" As a man with a crippled left leg and arm, he always said, "give me an opportunity and I will get the job done." As a teacher, loved to see his students grow and his sole desire was for them to take personal responsibility and learn all they can. He taught his students not to judge others on outward appearance but on effort.

The youngest of three, George was born July 2, 1931, in the community of Smyrna near Emory, Texas to James Delesley and Maudie Viola Berry. He grew up in Grand Saline, Texas, and graduated from Grand Saline High School where he was active in church and football. While working his way through college, he worked many jobs, including door-to-door Bible salesman and in accounting for Timco Aircraft. Education and the importance of college was inspired by his older brother after Marvin served in WWII. George graduated from University of North Texas in Denton with bachelor's and master's degrees in Education.

George met his wife, Wilma Jennings, through mutual friends while in college, and they were married Jan. 22, 1956, in Granbury, Texas. They moved to Corpus Christi in 1962, and both/he started teaching for CCISD. He worked as a math teacher for 34 years. Students at Driscoll Junior High, Moody High School, and Carroll High School remembered him as a tough, yet fair teacher, who expected all of his students to make an effort and learn. He was active at Lexington Baptist Church, with Boy Scouts Troup No. 7 and 3. He retired from Mary Carrol High School in 1991, and enjoyed his retirement by traveling, watching westerns and spending time with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife Wilma; sister Dot King (Livingston, Texas); sister-in-law Dolores Berry (Dallas, Texas); son Dale Delesley Berry (Marian Berry) of Corpus Christi; daughter Brenda Sue Ramirez of San Jose, Calif.; grandchildren James (wife Taylor Barmore Berry), Taylor, Aubrey and David Berry; Ariel and Adrian Torres; and great-grandchildren Leilani and Koa Berry. Papa will be remembered for being a huge John Wayne fan, especially the movie "Big Jake", for fixing the best sweet tea, and for being an excellent cook known for his chicken-fried pork chops with gravy and sugar toast. All of the grandkids learned to love asparagus after eating it fresh from his garden.

George's family wishes to thank Dr. John Carmichael for being his family doctor for more than 25 years, to Nurses on Wheels Hospice and Brookedale for their wonderful care and help over the past year.

Services will be held at Cage-Mills Funeral Director’s in Corpus Christi on Monday, June 6 at 10:00 am. Burial will be Tuesday, June 7, in Smyrna, Texas. In lieu of flowers, George's family requests memorial donations to be made to Lexington Baptist Church or the Boy Scouts of America, South Texas Council.

To offer condolences please visit www.cage-mills.com