Henry Arnold McElroy, 93, of Buda, passed away on Sunday, February 7, 2010 at his residence surrounded by his loving family.

McELROY

He was born on December 21, 1916 in Wills Point, Texas to William Voyd McElroy and Annie Inez Wall McElroy. Henry graduated from high school in Alice where his Dad and Mom built, owned, and operated the Princess Inez Hotel. During high school, he played football and ran track with the Alice Coyotes. Following high school, he attended Texas A&M University, Texas A&I University, and graduated from the University of Houston in 1946 with a degree in Civil Engineering and in 1953 became a Certified Professional Engineer. In 1942, Henry joined Shell Oil Company in Deer Park where he worked until his retirement in 1981. During his college years, he met the love of his life, Miss Gelda Lee Johnston, whom he married on September 15, 1940. For the past 69 years, they have worked together, cared for one another, and whispered sweet memories to each other. They lived in the Houston area after college and began their family with the birth of the first of three sons in 1942. In 1948, they moved to Pasadena where they lived until he retired to Buda in 1981. Henry and Gelda loved to travel and vacations were special through their many years. They would pack the car with pots and pans, ice chest, tents, cots, and the three boys and head to all directions of the country. He provided the boys with wonderful memories of travel. Many of the weekends and holidays were filled with traveling to relatives where there was always a washer or horseshoe game by day and straight dominoes or 42 in the evenings. And, of course, stories were told of times gone by. When his three sons left home, Henry spent more time with his Church activities. During the many years of Church activities, he served as Baptist Deacon in Pasadena and Austin. He was ordained into the Gideon’s International in 1968. As a Gideon, Henry held office as the Memorial Bible Chairman, which he held for almost fifteen years. To his fellow camp members, he was known to be the oldest Gideon in active service. Henry enjoyed time with his hobbies of bowling and woodworking. He was known in the local bowling clubs as one of the most outstanding senior bowlers in the Austin area until his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in June 2009 at the age of 92. Once he was asked, “who is the oldest bowler in your league?” He thought for a moment and replied “me”.

Henry was preceded in death by his parents. He will be sadly missed by his beloved wife of 69 years, Gelda; sons, Ron and wife, Z, Leigh and wife, Patsy, and Larry McElroy and Josefina Flores; grandsons, Brent and wife, Anne, Brett and wife, Janea, Kevin, Travis, Toby and wife, Christi, and John and wife, Tonya; 10 great-grandchildren; niece, Frances Anne Duderstadt; nephew, Bob Johnston; numerous other relatives and a host of friends.

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Robinson Creek Hospice and a special thanks to Nurse Peggy Tinkey and Chaplain Barry Thiering. And last, but not least, our love and deepest appreciation to Frances Anne Duderstadt and Paulette Francis, who have been angels of mercy.

Thanks Dad, We Love You!

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, February 11, 2010 at Bannockburn Baptist Church, 7100 Brodie Lane, with Pastor Ryan Rush officiating. Interment will follow services at Onion Creek Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like contributions made in Henry’s memory to Robinson Creek Hospice or Gideon International Card Program.

Please join us in celebrating Henry’s life by visiting our Memorial at www.cook-walden.com where we invite you to share your thoughts and fond memories with our family.