George Lewis Grounds

George Lewis Grounds, 85, of Abilene and formerly of Stamford, passed away on Monday, at a Lubbock hospital.  Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday at the Orient Street Church of Christ with Wes Horn officiating.  Burial followed at the Strand Family Cemetery, east of Stamford.
George was born September 21, 1924 in Eastland County to Elmer and Henryetta Biggs Grounds. He attended school for two years at McCamey prior to his family moving to Crane where he continued his education until 1943 when he was drafted into the United States Army the summer before his senior year.  He served two years and returned to Crane and finished his senior year and graduated in 1946 at the age of 21. While in the Army, he served in Leyte and Luzon, and helped liberate Bataan, Corregidor and other Pacific islands.  While in Corregidor, he received the Bronze Star. After graduating from high school he went to El Paso and attended Texas Western College and played football for the Miners for four years and graduated in 1950. He married Hazel Cristena Terry on May 31, 1955 at the Moran Street Church of Christ in Stamford. George taught school in El Paso High School for 2 years and then moved to Crane and taught as a teacher, coach, principal and counselor for 37 years until his retirement in 1985. While living in Crane, George and Chris were members of the Mary Street Church of Christ where George taught Sunday school. George and Chris returned home to Stamford in 1985 where George began helping in the family farming business.  He was a member of the Orient Street Church of Christ, served on the board of the Stamford Preservation League, the Highland Memorial Cemetery board, and the planning and zoning board for the City of Stamford.
He is survived by his wife Cristena Grounds of Abilene, 3 daughters, Gina Holt and husband Lanny, Georganne Cole and husband Robert, and Lisa Sena all of Abilene.  6 grandchildren, Lucas Holt, Brian Sena, Riley Holt, Brandi Sena, Robyn Cole, and Logan Cole, 2 great grandchildren, Braelyn Sena and Cason Holt.
The family requests that memorials be sent to The Philippino Project, % Central Church of Christ, P. O. Box 407, Hereford, TX 79045.