Wilbert “bert” Gripp

1926-2015

Bert Gripp, an attorney in Houston for more than 50 years, died Friday, Nov. 6, 2015, in Houston, Texas.

Bert was born Dec. 23, 1926, in Port Arthur, Texas, to Edmund and Sadie Gripp.

He grew up in Port Arthur and attended Thomas Jefferson High School where he played on the 1944 State Championship Football team against future All-American Doak Walker, and Bert’s team won. This was just the beginning of a life-long love of sports for Bert.

After high school Bert went into the Army as had his only sibling and older brother Edward A. Gripp. When his brother was shot down over Japan in 1945, Bert, being the only surviving sibling and son, was sent home.

He went on to attend SMU under the GI Bill, but also took pride in the fact that he put himself through college in part thanks to his superior gambling skills. His mother never quite understood how Bert made ends meet with just the GI Bill. She may have been the only person in Bert’s life that didn’t know about his love and success as a gambler.

Bert graduated from SMU in 1950. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) and often referred to them as the sleep and eat boys.

His first job out of college was with the Travelers Insurance in Corpus Christi. While at Travelers, he met lifelong friends Pat and Alton Wachtendorf.

Bert started law school in 1953 while working full time for Travelers. He graduated in three years from South Texas College of Law in 1956. He began practicing law in 1957. He had several law associates through the years. His last law associates were John Barker and Allen Kline.

He practiced plaintiff ’s law, which fit him well, because he liked the gamble—if he didn’t win, there wasn’t a pay out.

He practiced law for more than 50 years, retiring in 2008.

Although he loved his law practice, his children and sports were his passion. He took great pride in his daughter Gaynel, graduating from SMU. To say he was a football fan, was putting it mildly. He had a sign in his home that said, “This family temporarily interrupted for football season.” He coached his three sons at the Spring Branch Memorial Sports Association in baseball and football and won a number of championships.

He was also a lifelong golfer and spent many hours at the Champions and BraeBurn Country Club golf course.

He was a lifelong Lutheran and a charter member of Memorial Drive Lutheran Church, which begin in 1961.

Bert was preceded in death by his parents, Edmund and Sadie Gripp and his brother, Edward A. Gripp. He is survived by his sons Edward S. Gripp, Lyle V. Gripp and fiancée Sharon Johnson, and Gregory G. Gripp; his daughter, Gaynel Gripp Morris and her husband Chuck Morris; granddaughters Kelli Heishman, Meghan Gripp, and grandsons Colby Morris and Hunter Gripp; and one great-granddaughter Daisy Grace Heishman.

Friends are invited to the memorial service at noon on Saturday, Nov. 14 at Memorial Drive Lutheran Church with a reception following.