Billy C. Grissom

The Rev. Billy Cullen Grissom, age 77 of Wharton died Tuesday, December 4, 2012 in a Wharton Hospital following an automobile accident. He was born on April 13, 1935 in Weatherford, TX the son of the late William Cullen Grissom and Martha Altus Terry Grissom. He served as college chaplain of Sam Houston State Teachers College where he met, and married Mary Agnes Dromgoole on August 26, 1962 in Eagle Lake, TX. He attended Cresent Schools and then went to Texas A&M for several years before transferring to Baylor University and graduating in 1958. He was a veteran serving in the U.S. Army. He graduated from The Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, TX in 1961 and was ordained on September 23, 1962. He served churches in Jacksonville and Rusk, Texas. He then served as Rector of St. Matthews Episcopal Church in Houston for fifteen years. He then moved to Denver, CO where he served at St. Peter’s Intercity Church. He then became a college chaplain at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO. From there he served as chaplain at the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO. He then returned to Parish Ministry for fifteen years at Holy Comforter Church in Broomfield, CO. He retired and moved to Wharton to be close to his children and grandchildren. Rev. Grissom had been a resident of Wharton since 2002 and was a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Following cremation, memorial services were held at 2:00 pm Friday, December 7, 2012 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Wharton with The Rev. John Soard officiating. Survivors include his wife, Mary Agnes Grissom of Wharton; daughters and husbands, Mary Teresa Grissom & Scott Reed of Tomball, TX and Anne Maria Wigginton & Daryle of Colorado County, TX; sons and daughters-in-law, James Cullen & Elizabeth Grissom of College Station, TX and Michael Montgomery & Donna Grissom of Wharton; brother and sister-in-law, Wesley & Paula Grissom of Garland, TX; brother-in-law, Dr. John Cox of Sweetwater, TX; grandchildren, Jeremy Mullins, Casey Matzke, David Grissom, Stephanie Grissom and Heather Grissom; great granddaughter, Mattie Polasek and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was also preceded in death by a sister, Yvonne Cox and a younger brother James Grissom. In lieu of usual remembrances the family requests memorials to either the Outreach Program or the Memorial Fund at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 207 Bob-o-link, Wharton, TX 77488.