O.R. Gilstrap, 93, of Beaumont, died Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth in Beaumont.
Mr. Gilstrap was born and raised in Rusk County, Texas in the Old London community. This was where he first started school. After the oil field discovery, the school relocated and the name was change to New London School. The school was destroyed by a leaky gas pipe explosion in 1937. Many children were killed and badly injured.
Mr. Gilstrap was on of seven children. His parents were farmers in Rusk County. He worked for different oil companies on drilling rigs as a rough neck in several different fields in Texas, Oklahoma and Illinois. When World War II started, the oil field drilling was stopped, as well as many different kinds of work because all materials were needed on many defense jobs until the Little Rock Company was building the rubber plant in Port Neches. He was sent there to complete this job.
After the war he continued to live in Beaumont and worked in the building industry in the late forties and early fifties. He started a building contracting company, specializing in home and commercial work. He was dedicated to organized labor and was a member of the Carpenters Union for fifty-eight years. He retired from building in 1970 and went to work for the City of Beaumont as a building inspector. He retired from the city in 1985.
He was married to Edna Lois Monroe in 1938 in Iowa Park, Texas. Mrs. Gilstrap has been deceased since 1984. They had one son, Ronald Lee. Ronald married Kathy Ener and they had two children, Beth and Paul Marshall. Mr. Gilstrap was always ready to speak well of Beaumont, Jefferson County and all his many friends in the area. Mr. and Mrs. Gilstrap were members of Wesley United Methodist Church. He will be buried in Rusk County, Texas at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery beside his wife Edna in the family plot near his mother and father and other relatives.
His parents, Monnie and Troy C. Gilstrap; and his loving wife, Edna Lois Gilstrap preceded him in death.
Survivors include his son, Ronald Gilstrap and his wife Kathy of Alvin; sister, Margie Johnson of New London; and grandchildren. Beth Strand and her husband Jon and Paul Gilstrap.
His funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2009 at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A graveside service will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, March 22, 2009 at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Henderson. A gathering of his family and friends will begin at 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning prior to the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to Boys Haven of America, 3655 North Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77713; Buckner’s Family Village, 9055 Manion Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77706; or to a charity of your choice.
