Barbara Jean Groseclose

Barbara Jean Groseclose, 78, and a longtime resident of Houston, Texas, was healed when her soul entered Heaven on Saturday, December 13, 2014. She left this earthly world at Kindred Hospital from congestive heart failure and diabetic complications. Barbara was born on August 13, 1936 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Houston to Frank and Edythe Joyce Bonno.

Barbara’s father, Frank, passed away when she was 5 years old. Her mother, Edythe, remarried 2 years later to her father’s best friend, Lester Saladee. He became her Daddy and helped raise her to become a prim and proper lady and encouraged her to develop her mechanical aptitude.

Barbara experienced a trauma as a baby that resulted in near total hearing loss. With the assistance of a crude type of hearing aid, she started her education at a school for the deaf and was mainstreamed into elementary school when her family moved to Galena Park. She graduated from Galena Park High School in 1956, assisted throughout the years by advancing hearing aid technology, her sister and school friends. Barbara also competed in long distance swimming in high school and won numerous awards.

Barbara applied and was accepted into nursing school in 1957, but was unable to complete the program due to her hearing impairment, which was a great disappointment.

She worked as a data entry operator for American National Life Insurance Company in Galveston where she met William Dorman Groseclose. She married Bill on March 12, 1970. Barbara and Bill resided in Galveston until they moved to Lubbock to be with his family. Bill passed away in January 1984 and Barbara returned to Houston that August. Barbara then worked for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice until her retirement in 2005.

Barbara was a member of the South Drive Baptist Church where she enjoyed praising and worshipping her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She also enjoyed fellowship with her church family, especially Pastor Kenneth Plunk and his wife, Loretta. Barbara’s favorite Bible verse is John 3:16.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Barbara is survived by her sister, Pat Castellaw; niece, Debbie Peterson and her husband, Mark; grandnephew, Gary Day and Annie; great grandnephew, Kenneth; great grandnieces, Garyn, Alayna and Mia, and other family members.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, and her “two adopted children,” Blondie and Precious, the poodles.

Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, December 18, 2014 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Advantage-Howard Glendale Chapel located at 1015 Federal Road, Houston, Texas 77015. Phone number is 713-453-6373. The funeral service will follow starting at 7:00 pm. No graveside service will incur as Barbara will be buried next to her husband in Lubbock, Texas

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In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Heart or American Diabetes Associations, or any charity of your choice.

Arrangements under the direction of Advantage Howard-Glendale Chapel, Houston, TX.