Nora Gremillion Bomke

Nora Gremillion Bomke, 93, passed away November 26, 2020. Born in Alexandria, Louisiana to Amy and Winton Gremillion, she had a keen interest in history. Nora and her younger sister Helen were always proud of their Louisiana heritage.

In the summer of 1945, while Nora was a Medical Technology student at Louisiana College, she was introduced to the love of her life U.S. Army Capt. Elmer Bomke during a dance at nearby Camp Claiborne. Aside from Nora’s sense of humor, Elmer later admitted that he had been attracted by her “feistiness.” Their marriage in October of that year launched a beautiful journey that spanned 53 years until Elmer’s death in 1999.

Elmer’s career as an electrical engineer initially took the young couple to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and two years later to Birmingham, Alabama, where they resided for 21 years. During this time, Nora and Elmer welcomed three daughters. Nora developed a penchant for public speaking when she became a founding member of Shades Valley Toastmistress Club and was elected as its second president. The experience would serve her well in another role several years later as president of Our Lady of Sorrows Altar Sodality.

Relocating to Pensacola, Florida in 1969 was bittersweet as Nora and Elmer bid farewell to many close lifelong friends. They were thrilled to become Texans when the family moved to Houston in 1971. Nora wasted no time in getting involved. She joined the Houston Engineering and Scientific Society Auxiliary, serving as its 1985-86 president, and eventually became active in the Brown & Root Retirees’ Association as well as several community organizations.

An enthusiastic hands-on mother and grandmother, Nora was passionate about her Catholic faith, country, family and friends. Known for her love of cooking and entertaining, she was the ultimate Southern hostess. She also enjoyed travel, especially with Elmer, which included visits to all 50 states and 34 countries, as well as volunteering, reading, crafts, music, genealogy, and an occasional outing to the casino.

Nora is survived by daughters Linda Bomke, Vicki Thomson and husband Harry, Amy Weldon and husband Gary; grandchildren Andrew Thomson, Grant Thomson and wife Lexi, Blake Thomson and wife Michelle, and Katherine Kolesa and husband Anthony; great grandsons Everett and Charles Thomson; sister-in-law Wanda Ogg; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank the caring staffs of Belmont Village at Hunters Creek and Methodist West Hospital Emergency Center, 6th Floor, and Intensive Care Unit for their kindness and support.

A graveside family service was held at Memorial Oaks Cemetery on December 2.

For those desiring to make remembrances, the family suggests the Gary Sinise Foundation https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/veterans/donate P.O. Box 368, Woodland Hills, CA 91365 or AFTD - The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration https://www.theaftd.org 2700 Horizon Drive, Suite 120, King of Prussia, PA 19406.