Gilbert "Bo" Grounds

Gilbert A. Grounds, Jr. (“Bo”) was born to Gilbert and Edna Mae Grounds on February 11, 1937 in Houston County, Texas, spending most of his young years in Crockett where his parents ran a Humble gas station. The family moved to Pasadena, Texas in 1949, where Bo attended Jackson Junior High and Pasadena High School, graduating in 1955. While at Pasadena High, Bo’s main sport was baseball. Not only was he a good player, but his coach profited from Bo as well. Before the start of some games, Bo’s coach would bet the opposing coach that he had a boy who could stand on home plate, and without a running start, rare back and throw it over the left-center field fence. When the opposing coach would ask which one, Bo’s coach would point at Bo, all 5 foot 8 inches 155 pounds of him. The opposing coach would usually take that bet. The opposing coach always lost that bet. Upon graduation in 1955, Bo went to work for Houston Lighting and Power, where he worked his entire career until retiring in 1992. He started as a grunt on a line crew, and exited as Division Manager. You’ve probably seen some of the work of his hands. When you’re crossing Galveston Bay on Interstate 45, and look over to the side of the freeway, you’ll notice the power lines on the towers which run from the mainland to Galveston Island. He was a member of the crew which hung those lines. Considering the work and courage involved in hanging those lines across the bay, it was a crew of men who performed that work. In his spare time, Bo played fast-pitch softball at a major class level. In the 60s and early 70s, he was considered by some as the Brooks Robinson of fast-pitch softball. One summer, he played 89 games without making an error. When he threw the ball across the infield to first base, the ball would rise from about waist level to chest level for the first baseman. Another big part of his spare time consisted of hunting, mostly deer and elk. He was quite the marksman. One weekend, he returned from West Texas with four whitetail bucks. Each was shot from hundreds of yards away, across ravines. He also shot an elk in Colorado from about 1,200 yards. His .270 rifle was good to him. Most importantly, Bo was a Christian, and a great husband and father. Bo became a Christian in November, 1956 at the age of 19, while under the preaching of Lloyd Stewart (Juanita’s father). He was always involved in church, serving as Treasurer for churches attended. Bo was also a talented bass singer. He often sang solos, including church services, weddings and funerals, and loved to sing in quartets. People often requested for him to sing. Perhaps his biggest moment of singing was when he sang the National Anthem as part of a quartet at an Astros game in 2001. Bo married Juanita Stewart of Palestine, Texas on August 3, 1957. For the 1950’s, it was a long-distance relationship, as it was a 3 hour drive from Pasadena to Palestine. Bo made the drive 71 weekends in a row until they were married. Bo’s love never faded, and he remained a faithful, terrific husband for over 56 years. Bo and Juanita had two sons, Stewart and Barry. He was as good of a father as he was a husband. We love him to this day and always will. Bo is survived by wife Juanita, son Stewart and his wife Tasha, son Barry and his wife Sherrie, and his 6 grandchildren: Barry’s daughters Katie, Kristen and Karlee, and Stewart’s sons Cody, Tucker and Zane. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Frances Hood. Services will be held Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at 11:00AM at Elkins Lake Baptist Church with a Graveside Service in Denson Cemetery, Grapeland ,Texas at 3:00PM. Visitation will be held Monday, January 20, 2014 from 5:00-8:00PM at Elkins Lake Baptist Church. Memorial donations may be made to Traditions Hospice or Elkins Lake Baptist Church Building Fund 206 State Hwy 19, Huntsville, Texas 77340. Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at www.shmfh. com.

Gilbert "Bo" Grounds

February 11, 1937 - January 21, 2014