Gilbert W. Zeiss

Gilbert W. Zeiss’ family will celebrate his life of 97 years at 2:00 p.m. on February 10, 2021, at Southcrest Baptist Church. He passed on Sunday, February 7, 2021. In support of the health of his family, face coverings are mandatory while attending the service. The service will be live-streamed on this page, where you are encouraged to sign the virtual guestbook and share memories and expressions of sympathy.Born to Willie & Tillie Sohm Zeiss on February 7, 1924 at Indian Gap Texas, Gilbert grew up in Hamilton County and lived in Comanche County during World War II.In 1942, Gilbert graduated Comanche High School on a Friday night and was enrolled in the Navy first the thing the following Monday. After joining the Navy, he was sent to San Diego, where he completed basic training and served three months before being released for health reasons.He talked often of the Model A Ford he bought in 1947 for $125. That summer, he packed everything he owned into his Model A and headed for West Texas, sleeping on an army cot when he got tired. With only $3 left in his pocket, he finally found a job at Hale County Gin.After a year of working up the courage to talk to her, Gilbert met Allie Rawls, who lived across from him in Hale Center. They dated for three months before marrying on July 25, 1953. They had two children, Bradford William and Sandra Kaye, and were married 30 years when Allie passed away in 1987. He married Zelma Hedrick in 1989 and they had 16 years together before Zelma’s passing in 2005.Gilbert talked a lot about how fortunate he was to have loved and been loved by two wonderful women. He was very social and kept himself busy by taking his neighbors to lunch and playing dominoes at the Homestead senior program. At Homestead, he met Lola Whitfield, who became a special friend until her passing in 2013.In his lifetime, Gilbert moved around and worked many odd jobs including driving a propane truck and bus, chauffeur, and buying and selling cedar posts. He worked and retired from Reese Airforce Base in 1993 working in the water treatment plant. He loved travel both before and after retirement as well as fishing and “piddling and tinkering” around in his shop.In early 2019, Gilbert decided he was ready to live the “easy” life and sold his house which he had lived in since 1968 and gave away his 19 year old car. He moved into Ventura Independent Living until his passing on February 7th, his 97th birthday!Gilbert was known as a social bug and was called a “teenager” by staff at Ventura. He talked often about turning 100 and hoped to live well beyond 100 years. When confiding in Gilbert about good news, bad news or even just talking about the weather, his response was always the same…. “How about that”. It is a catch-phrase that will forever be remembered and used by all of his family and friends.Survivors include his daughter, Sandra (Lawayne) Henderson; daughter-in-law, Cindy Zeiss; grandchildren, Bridget (Juan) Olivas, Christi Zeiss, Stephen (Jessica) Henderson, Chris (Claudia) Zeiss, and Tammy (Ryan) Mathews; ten great-grandchildren, one great-grandchild; sister, Dorothy Zeiss. He is also survived by four stepchildren, fifteen step-grandchildren, twenty-eight step-great-grandchildren, and eleven step great-great-grandchildren.Mr. Zeiss is preceded in death by his parents; wives, Allie and Zelma Zeiss; son, Brad Zeiss; great-granddaughters, Ella Grace Zeiss and Charlie Marie Zeiss; great-grandson, Maddox Romero; brother, T. W. Zeiss.