Grady F. Herold

Mercedes - Grady Fillmore Herold, Sr., 92, of Mercedes, Texas passed away on January 9, 2014 at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, Texas.
Grady was born in Marlinton, West Virginia to Anna and Winston Herold on June 24, 1921. He married his wife, Kathryn (Katy) Louise Schwarz on April 17, 1943 in Mercedes, Texas. Grady graduated from Marlinton High School in West Virginia and worked as an Agricultural Accountant most of his working life. He was a veteran of World War II and proudly served as a B29 Flight Engineer in the Army Air Corp and was stationed in Harlingen, Texas. He served as a deacon at Presbyterian Church of Mercedes and as City Commissioner for the City of Mercedes. He was also involved with the Mercedes Lions Club and the American Legion Post #0172 of Mercedes, Texas.
Grady's wife, Katy, was his anchor for 70 years and was an active member in the Mercedes community and worked in the banking industry for over 40 years. Katy and Grady became parents to four wonderful sons: Grady Herold, Jr. (wife Grace Anne Herold), Darius Herold (deceased),Larry Herold (wife Linda Herold) and David Herold (wife Carole Herold).
Grady, who was always known to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren as PapPaw, had 9 grandchildren: Merielle Herold Boatman, Betsy Herold Pirotte, Michael Herold, Carrie Herold Pautsch, Jennifer Herold Strawbridge, Darius John Herold, Michelle Herold Clark, Sean Herold and Blake Herold and 11 great-grandchildren who also survive him and brought him immeasurable joy. It is no easy task to sum up the life of this wonderfully talented and intelligent man. He was at one time or another, and sometimes all at once humorous, a wonderful story teller, a man who loved country music, a man who could draw, sing and play guitar, and was kind and caring beyond words, but above all else, he was devoted to his family, his friends, his church, his country and his great state of West Virginia.
Grady is preceded in death by his son Darius Winston Herold, his parents and two sisters Eleanor and Virginia (Gin).
Visitation will be held Monday, January 13, 2014 from 5pm to 7pm at McCaleb Funeral Home in Weslaco, Texas. Funeral services will be held at on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at 10:00 am at the First Presbyterian Church of Mercedes with the Rev. Esther Hughes officiating. Burial will follow at Ebony Grove Cemetery in Mercedes, Texas.
The family of Grady Herold, Sr. wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. John Ferris, Calidad Home Health Agency, gracious neighbors who unselfishly lent a helping hand, Esmer, Rachel, Sally and Crystal who provided care for Grady during his final months, Rev. Esther Hughes and Mary and Wally Bunton.
Most of all we say thank you, with much love and unending gratitude, to Delfina for the care and attention given to Grady, Katy and the entire Herold family throughout the years. We are both happy and proud to call Delfina family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions may be made to the Presbyterian Church of Mercedes in Grady's memory.
Arrangements under the direction of McCaleb Funeral Home of Weslaco.