Following an unexpected health event, Carl A. Gilson, age 78, of Kyle, TX, joined his Lord and Savior on April 7, 2021, as the last notes of “Amazing Grace” played from his daughter’s cell phone. This kind, generous, wise man who enjoyed people and was gifted with a great sense of humor – sometimes a bit quirky – had served his Lord in countless ways and lived a life of adventure, of enjoying children and working alone or with others to make life a bit better for someone else.
Born October 12, 1942, in Sioux Falls, SD, to William E. and Olive (Petersen) Gilson, Carl lived his early years in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, where his dad fished and ran charter boats. He and his two brothers lived a life exploring the Everglades, sailing the nearby lakes and were always active in scouting. When his dad became the yacht captain for a wealthy Texas landowner, the family moved to Port Lavaca and, following college and military service in the Marine Corps Reserves, Carl ended up in Houston. Agreeing to a blind date set up by his younger brother, Dick, Carl met transplanted Yankee schoolteacher, Peggy Pruett, with whom he would share a marriage of 53 years. Nine years later, to that marriage entered the blessing of a darling little girl, Shannon Leigh, who was always the apple of her daddy’s eye.
As a young man, Carl was employed by First City National Bank of Houston for 18 years where he rose to the position of Assistant Vice President of Operations in the Real Estate and Mortgage Banking Division. While at FCNB, he served two years at President of the Employees Club. From FCNB, Carl accepted a position as a Vice President at River Oaks Bank of Houston where it was his joy to serve. During the early years of the development of The Woodlands, TX, Carl served as the President of the Joint Powers for all The Woodlands Municipal Utility Districts. Accepting an offer with the Resolution Trust Corporation during the banking and savings and loan problems of the 1980s, Carl worked out of Dallas, commuting home to Houston on weekends. It was important to him to be with his family and be in church and Sunday school every week. His later years until retirement were with the law firm of Barrett Daffin Frappier Engels & Turner, L.L.P. He treated all around him with respect and a caring heart while at the same time expecting faithful and accurate accounting in all respects.
