Don Gilchrest

Don Powell Gilchrest, loving husband, father, and grandfather passed peacefully to his Heavenly Home surrounded by family on Wednesday, April 1, 2015. He was born May 5, 1937 in Gatesville, TX to Lillie Clemons Gilchrest and Harvey Otto Gilchrest and moved to Waco as an infant. He attended Waco Schools and graduated from Waco High in 1955.
Don joined the US Air Force in 1957 and served the 858th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron in Fallon, Nevada. In December 1959 he married the love of his life, Jean Colson Gilchrest of Waco, TX, and celebrated 55 years of marriage in 2014. Don moved his bride to Nevada where their first child, Byron, was born in 1960. After an Honorable Discharge and moving back to the Waco area in 1961 their daughter, Donna, was born. Don worked part-time at Hammond Industry and Alamo Steel while completing his BBA at Baylor University. After graduation he began his decades-long career in the Steel Fabricating Industry beginning at Central Texas Iron Works in Waco in the Purchasing Department. Later he moved to Houston, TX where he joined IKG Industries, a Division of Harsco, and held various positions in Management and Sales and received numerous Outstanding Achievement Awards with the company before retiring in 2003. Immediately after retirement Don and Jean enjoyed extensive travel up until the time he became ill in February. In career as in life, Don humbly served the Lord as a member of First Baptist Church of Belton. He loved and cared deeply for family and all those in his life, worked with integrity, and led by example. Wherever he lived, he served as an ambassador for his community in various ways. He was a leader in United Way efforts, a mentor to youth and a Scoutmaster with Boy Scouts of America with Woodbadge Training, Volunteered in Community Safety with Salado COP, Volunteered with Campers' on Mission, etc. Don also enjoyed God's wonderful creations as an Outdoorsman - Hunting, Camping, Skiing, and Marathon Training.
Don was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, R.E. Pete Gilchrest; and a sister, Ruth Gilchrest Mullins.
Those left to cherish sweet memories of Don are his loving wife, Jean Gilchrest of Salado; a son, Byron Gilchrest and wife Colleen of Salado; a daughter, Donna Gilchrest of McGregor; grandchildren, Brittany Sharum and husband Clayton of Fayetteville, AR, Stetson Gilchrest of Georgetown and Sharla Gilchrest of San Angelo; and one great-grandchild, Indiana Sharum of Fayetteville, AR.

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