Gordon McDowell Grubbs

Gordon McDowell Grubbs was born the second son of David Marion Grubbs and Evelyn Gray Grubbs on July 7, 1940, in Caracas, Venezuela. He passed away peacefully in the early hours of January 13, 2026, after a sharp decline due to vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. He is now reunited with his beloved wife of 60 years, Clare Kollenberg Grubbs, whom we also lost to Alzheimer’s disease in 2023.

Gordon spent his childhood in Texas, and attended the New Mexico Military Institute, Highland Park High School, and The Choate School in Connecticut. In 1958, he began his college years at Rice University, where, at the beginning of his sophomore year, he met Clare in her freshman year.

Gordon graduated in May 1962, earning a bachelor’s degree in economics. He and Clare married in August of that year, and when she graduated in 1963, she was carrying their first child, Ann. Their other children, Mary, Ellen, and Michael, arrived in rapid succession, while Gordon worked to become a credentialed actuary, which was his lifetime career.

Gordon’s work moved the family from Houston to Dallas, Pennsylvania, Austin, and Lufkin. In 1986, they landed in Plano, where Gordon and Clare spent 25 years building a support system of friends and neighbors who stay in touch to this day. They spent their retirement years in Whitney, Texas — traveling, birdwatching, relocating errant squirrels, and opening their home to friends and family for relaxing getaways far from the big city.

In 2015, they received Clare’s Alzheimer’s Disease diagnosis and returned to Plano to be closer to family, friends, and medical care. As Clare’s disease progressed, Gordon was her care partner, helping her, protecting her, and loving her without fail. When she needed higher levels of care, he stayed with her, unflaggingly by her side until she found her peace. We are grateful they are now at peace together.

Gordon was a dedicated husband. He loved talking and laughing with his children and grandchildren. He was generous, curious, smart, and ridiculously silly. His musical talent led him to compose songs on piano and guitar, teach himself to play the banjo, and harmonize in Plano’s barbershop group, Men of Note. He read voraciously — mostly the great classics and Pulitzer Prize winners — and he never met a Sudoku he wouldn’t try to solve.

Gordon’s family will miss his sense of humor, support, and love: children Ann Meeks and husband, Kent; Mary Gerush and husband, Jon; Ellen Haster; and Michael Grubbs and wife, Kelli. His grandchildren and great grandchildren will feel his influence throughout their lives: Kevin Meeks; Kelsey Forsberg, husband, Phillip, and children, Kent, Miles, and Kaelyn; Jason Meeks, wife, Whitney, and children, Ethan, Collin, and Maggie; Kristen Ortolani, husband, Mitchel, and children, Levi and Callie; Allison Gerush and fiancée, Nick Riccione; Christopher Haster; Taylor Haster; Carey Turbeville and husband, Christian; James Grubbs, wife, Lyndi, and daughters, Leah and Lainey; Jonathan Grubbs and partner, Emily Joslin; Nicholas Grubbs; David Grubbs; Claire Wimberly; Hannah Wimberly-Salchak and husband, Andy; and Emma Wimberly.

There will be mass at 11:00 a.m., Monday, March 16, 2026, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Plano, Texas.

Gordon will be laid to rest at the Allen Family Funeral Options Memory Wall, Plano, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association in Gordon and Clare’s honor at: https://events.alz.org/fundraiser/marygerush/honoring-their-love