Gerald was born on August 15, 1933, in Houston, Texas. A resident of Houston for all but a few years of his life, Gerald spent his early childhood on Adams Street in Houston’s East Side before his family moved to West University when he was 14. As a teenager, Gerald was active in gymnastics and other sports as well as working in various part-time jobs, including as a paperboy for the Houston Post. Upon graduating from Lamar High School in 1952 he enrolled at Texas A&M College as a member of the Corps of Cadets, Class of ‘56. During his senior year he was selected to serve on the Corps’ battalion staff. He also served in the United States Army, Armor Division, as a First Lieutenant and tank commander.
After earning his civil engineering degree from A&M, Gerald worked as a design engineer for Turner, Collie and Braden; City Engineer for the City of Galveston; Pollution Control Director for the City of Houston; VP of Construction for a New York City-based REIT; and Regional Director for the Texas Water Commission, from which he retired in 1989. He was a Texas licensed professional engineer.
In retirement, Gerald took great pleasure in attending his son David’s high school and college baseball games, his weekly shuffleboard games with friends, and above all working on his cattle ranch near Iola, Texas. He was known for his ready smile, great sense of humor and friendly nature.
Gerald was married to Sonia Kildahl Bly of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, from 1958 until her death in 1988. His parents, Eugene Marvin Hord and Lyda McDonald Hord, predeceased him. Gerald is survived by daughter Anne Crockett, her husband Jim, grandson James and granddaughter Melanie; son Mark, his wife Lisa, granddaughters Anna and Lauren and grandson Nathan; son David Hord, his wife Joanna and daughter Jessica; sister Lyda Lynne Morgan; sister Susan Stevens and husband R.P.; nieces Kristen Damon and Jennifer Kincaid; and long-time girlfriend Sandra Zielske and her sons Jason, Jonathan and Josh.
Services celebrating Gerald’s life will be Sunday, November 1, 2015 in the chapel of Memorial Oaks Funeral Home at 12:00 noon. Concluding services, Gerald will be laid to rest at Memorial Oaks Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.
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