Wait_Gerald

**GERALD EUGENE WAIT**
Bellville Times Gerald Eugene Wait, 94, passed away on Sunday, July 16, 2006 at his home near Willow Springs, Texas. He was born to Estella Brown and Bert Edwin Wait on April 15, 1912 in Charlie, Texas. His family settled in Houston, where Gerald graduated from Reagan High School. On December 23, 1939 he married Christine Louise Robertson, who preceded him in death in 1971. Gerald served fourteen years with the U.S. Navy (where he reached the rank of Chief Petty Officer) and the U.S. Naval Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 561, where he commanded Platoon #6 stationed in the South Pacific during WWII. After the war, Gerald went to work for Reed Roller Bit Company in Houston. He was a brilliant man, who held several patents, including one for baitwell circulators which he invented, produced and sold. This allowed him to purchase 540 acres near New Ulm, Texas in the 1950零, where he began his love of ranching. In 1967, taking an early retirement from his position as welding foreman at Reed at the age of 55, Gerald moved his ranching operation and his family to the Willow Springs area, where he has resided ever since. Mr. Wait was formerly the secretary of and a member of the Fayetteville I.S.D. school board. An honest and strong-willed man who worked hard every day of his life, Gerald Wait was endowed with an incredible ability to master anything he set out to do. He was a loyal and devoted husband and father, with a list of skills and accomplishments too long to recite. He is survived by son Russell Wait and wife, Yvonne of Industry; daughter Sandra Stevens and husband Robert of Sugarland; daughter Ellen Wied of Willow Springs; grandchildren, Melanie Wait, Andrea Drab, Mike Drab, Shelby Stevens, Abbey Stevens and Jackson Stevens; and his sister Marjorie Griffiths of Friendswood. He also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews and their children. Visitation with family was held Tuesday, July 18, 2006 from 5:00- 7:00 p.m at Industry Methodist Church. Funeral services were held Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at Industry Methodist Church, with interment followed at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston at 4:00 p.m. Officiating minister was Rev. Milton Maly. Serving as pallbearers were Robert Stevens, Mike Drab, Matthew Griffiths, Bobby Rinn, Kenneth Geistmann and Bryon Porcher. Honorary pallbearers were Libby Geistmann and Shirlean Mayes. The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to Shirlean Mayes and her team of exceptionally patient and capable care-givers who tended our father over the last two months, to Hospice Brazos Valley and to Libby Geistmann -- a wonderful and blessed neighbor. Posted by Joy Neely

Bellville Times

    Gerald Eugene Wait, 94, passed away on Sunday, July 16, 2006 at his home
near Willow Springs, Texas.
    He was born to Estella Brown and Bert Edwin Wait on April 15, 1912 in
Charlie, Texas. His family settled in Houston, where Gerald graduated from
Reagan High School. On December 23, 1939 he married Christine Louise
Robertson, who preceded him in death in 1971. Gerald served fourteen years
with the U.S. Navy (where he reached the rank of Chief Petty Officer) and
the U.S. Naval Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 561, where he
commanded Platoon #6 stationed in the South Pacific during WWII. After the
war, Gerald went to work for Reed Roller Bit Company in Houston. He was a
brilliant man, who held several patents, including one for baitwell
circulators which he invented, produced and sold. This allowed him to
purchase 540 acres near New Ulm, Texas in the 1950零, where he began his
love of ranching.
    In 1967, taking an early retirement from his position as welding foreman
at Reed at the age of 55, Gerald moved his ranching operation and his family
to the Willow Springs area, where he has resided ever since.
    Mr. Wait was formerly the secretary of and a member of the Fayetteville
I.S.D. school board.
    An honest and strong-willed man who worked hard every day of his life,
Gerald Wait was endowed with an incredible ability to master anything he set
out to do. He was a loyal and devoted husband and father, with a list of
skills and accomplishments too long to recite.
    He is survived by son Russell Wait and wife, Yvonne  of Industry;
daughter Sandra Stevens and husband Robert of Sugarland; daughter Ellen Wied
of Willow Springs; grandchildren, Melanie Wait, Andrea Drab, Mike Drab,
Shelby Stevens, Abbey Stevens and Jackson Stevens; and his sister Marjorie
Griffiths of Friendswood. He also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews
and their children.
    Visitation with family was held Tuesday, July 18, 2006 from 5:00- 7:00
p.m at Industry Methodist Church.
    Funeral services were held Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at
Industry Methodist Church, with interment followed at Forest Park Lawndale
Cemetery in Houston at 4:00 p.m. Officiating minister was Rev. Milton Maly.
Serving as pallbearers were Robert Stevens, Mike Drab, Matthew Griffiths,
Bobby Rinn, Kenneth Geistmann and Bryon Porcher. Honorary pallbearers were
Libby Geistmann and Shirlean Mayes.
    The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to Shirlean
Mayes and her team of exceptionally patient and capable care-givers who
tended our father over the last two months, to Hospice Brazos Valley and to
Libby Geistmann -- a wonderful and blessed neighbor.

Posted by Joy Neely

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