Anita Joyce Gilstrap Olmstead

Anita Joyce Gilstrap Olmstead Because I could not stop for Death, He kindly stopped for me. E. Dickinson Anita Joyce Gilstrap was born May 20, 1934, in Marshall, Texas to C.H. (Sam) Gilstrap and Hazel H. Gilstrap. She died July 21, 2017 in Huntsville, Texas. Completing her public school education, Anita graduated from Huntsville High School. In 1952, she married Robert Wilbourn Olmstead. They had three sons, Robert, Timothy and Mark. Robert and Anita moved to Pasadena, Texas in 1952 to raise their family. While balancing an active family life with three young sons, Anita enrolled in Sam Houston State fulfilling a desire to continue learning. She completed both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree choosing English as her major, also earning a teaching certification. Upon graduating in 1963, Anita immediately accepted a job at South Houston High School in the Pasadena, Texas ISD. In 1964, Anita followed a new principal, Carter Lomax, to join the original faculty for the new high school, Sam Rayburn, in Pasadena, where she taught English. After many years of teaching, she became the language supervisor for PISD for the remainder of her career. After retiring in 1996, Anita moved back to Huntsville and started using her talents in other areas: a voracious reader, she was a founder of The Book Club in 1996; she was a master at needlework and worked day and night to create the most unusual landscape at her home in Elkins Lake. Anita was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Wilbourn Olmstead, her parents, C.H. (Sam) Gilstrap and Hazel H. Gilstrap, and longtime friend, Sylvia Bell. Anita is survived by her family: Bob, Harriet, Robert and Taylor Olmstead, Lynn Haven, FL, Timothy A. Olmstead, Houston, TX, Mark & Sara Olmstead, Katy, TX, Mike Olmstead, Brian Olmstead and family, Heather Miller and family, Gretchen Brian and family, her sister DeAnna Gideon, niece and nephews and their families: Sabrina Hamilton, Gene Skidmore, Mike Skidmore and Brett Skidmore. A graveside memorial service will be held at 10:30 am on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at Oakwood Cemetery in Huntsville, TX. “That is happiness; to be dissolved into something complete and great.” Those wishing to leave condolences for the family may do so at www.shmfh.com.

Anita Joyce Gilstrap Olmstead

May 20, 1934 - July 21, 2017