Obituary and audio from a June 2014 interview with Donal G. Gilstrap

In discussions with the Donal Gilstrap family over the weekend and last several days, it was revealed to them that the audio of the conversations we had back in 2014 with him to construct the article entitled, “A walk to remember” was saved.  Mr. Gilstrap’s son Patrick thought his students and friends might want to listen to some of the stories told directly from the longtime Howe High School principal.

Here he discusses a principal he had that made a huge impact on his administrative career.

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Here he discusses how he was lucky to get an education and recalls an English teacher that stood out to him.

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Here he discusses how he became a football player without ever seeing a game.

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Here he discusses how he was recruited to Howe ISD and the process of getting the high school principal position.

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Here he discusses how it took three people to replace him when he moved to high school principal and three people to replace him when he retired.

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Here he discusses his lack of desire to learn about computers.

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Here he discusses his retirement and working with Norman Farms.

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Here he talks about meeting Barbara.

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Services for Donal Gene Gilstrap, age 84, of Howe, Texas will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday, March 29, 2018, at the First Baptist Church in Howe. Private family burial will follow at the Hall Cemetery in Howe, Texas. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Wednesday, March 28, 2018, at Scoggins Funeral Home in Van Alstyne, Texas.

Donal passed away on Sunday, March 25, 2018, at the Homestead of Sherman. He was born on July 14, 1933, in Breckenridge, Texas the son of Edmund and Martha Gilstrap. Donal enlisted and served in the United States Army becoming a First Lieutenant. He met Barbara Helen Mahan while at Fort Sill & married her on August 8, 1959, in Madill, Oklahoma. Donal received his degree from Hardin Simmons University and later got his Master’s Degree from Texas Tech. He taught & coached in Memphis, TX & Lubbock, TX, before moving to Howe, TX to be a Principal for Howe Schools from 1972 until his retirement in 1993. He was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Howe, Texas.
Donal was preceded in death by his parents, then his wife, Barbara Helen Gilstrap.

Survivors are daughter, Catherine Gilstrap; son, Patrick Gilstrap & his wife Loretta; Grand-daughter, Dallas Wilburn & her husband, Lonnie; great-grand-daughter Zoey Wilburn; step-grandsons, Aaron Williams & Colton Williams; brother James Gilstrap & his wife Delores.

Services are under the direction of Scoggins Funeral Home & Crematory, 637 W. Van Alstyne Parkway, Van Alstyne, Texas 75495. Pallbearers will be Sam Haigis, Buddy Baker, Ray Bledsoe, Charles Farris, Charles Loftice & Bill Loftice.

The online register book may be signed at www.scogginsfunealhome.com

 

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