ADA DEAN GRUNDY
1924-2021
Ada Dean Grundy was born in Houston, Texas on October 17, 1924, and died in San Antonio on August 16, 2021. She was devoted to her husband of 57 years, Thad Grundy, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandson. She was also committed to her community, bringing vibrancy, a wonderful sense of humor, and love of life to activities ranging from sports to painting to politics. She was an active participant in everything she undertook and lived her life with purpose and style.
A lifelong resident of Houston, she attended Lamar High School and graduated from
St. Margaret’s School in Tappahannock, VA. She attended Rice University, where she was a member of the Pallas Athene Literary Society and the PALS Women’s Baseball Team and was an honoree at the Archi-Arts Ball. She was presented at Allegro in 1945. Shortly thereafter, she and Thad were married and soon became deeply involved in the newly developing Republican Party, helping to create a two-party system in Texas.
She accompanied Thad to the 1952 Republican National Convention in Chicago, where they supported the candidacy of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, and for years thereafter, they worked tirelessly in support of numerous Republican candidates. Ada was an active member of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church and a founding member of the Citizens Environmental Coalition.
Ada was an avid sportswoman and competitor, and she particularly excelled at tennis, playing for nearly seven decades. She also loved croquet, shooting, sailing, fishing, golf, and bridge. Along with her partners, she won numerous tennis and croquet tournaments, including a competitive croquet tournament at 91 years old – one of her proudest moments. Art was one of her greatest passions, and she painted up until her death. She was also a lifetime dog lover, and her canine companions brought her great joy until well into her eighties. She was a member of the Bayou Club, the Houston Country Club, the River Oaks Garden Club, the Town & Country Garden Club, the Assembly, and the Junior League of Houston.
Ada was pre-deceased by her husband Thad Grundy, her parents Ada Dodge
Dean and Kemerton Dean, and her sister Martha Dean Hargrove and her husband Joseph of Shreveport, LA. She is survived by her children Martha Dean Grundy King of Chestnut Hill, MA; Thad Grundy Jr. and wife Leslie of Houston, and Elizabeth Grundy Boldrick and husband John of San Antonio; her grandchildren, Franklin King IV and wife Marisa Roberts of Boston, MA; Margaret Grundy Noland and husband Chris of Charlottesville, VA; William Dodge Grundy and wife Grace of Houston; James Meneilley Boldrick of San Antonio; John Paul Boldrick, Jr. of Brooklyn, NY; and Elizabeth Dodge Boldrick and fiancé Ian Hooley of Brooklyn, NY; her great-grandson, William Hobby Grundy of Houston; and nieces, nephews, and numerous greatnieces and great-nephews.
The family would like to express its gratitude to Lucia Castaneda and the staff at
The Village of Tanglewood for their devoted care.
A private family service will be held at Glenwood Cemetery and a memorial service will be held at a later date. For those who wish to do so, contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Houston SPCA, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, or a charity of choice.