Ted Grant

1943 - 2023

Ted Grant
July 29, 1943 - August 29, 2023
San Marcos , Texas - Curtis Theodore "Ted" Grant passed away on August 29, 2023 at the age of 80. He was born July 29, 1943 in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Ted was the only child of Cecil L.T. Grant and Helen Artie Walker Grant. He is survived by his former wife, Mary Grant; daughter Jennifer Vizza and husband Matt Vizza, and granddaughter Lauren McCrary; and daughter Evy Grant Wilkinson, her husband Kelly Wilkinson, and grandson Henry Grant Wilkinson.
Ted's early years were spent with his family in North Carolina and Georgia. The family then moved to Biloxi, Mississippi, where his father was Chief Master Sergeant at Keesler Air Force Base. Ted attended Howard II Elementary, Gorenflo Elementary, Mary L. Michel Junior High, and Biloxi High School. He also attended Furstenfeld School in Germany, where his father was stationed for three years and then Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia. He returned to Biloxi and he graduated from Biloxi High School in 1962. Ted played and loved all sports, including Babe Ruth, Pony and American Legion Baseball. Ted was a member of the leadership organization, Phi Kappa Tau, and obtained the rank of Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow in Boy Scouts of America. Some of his first jobs in Biloxi were setting pins up at the bowling alley, paper boy for the back bay residents, and a soda fountain jerk. Ted worked as a lifeguard at the Officers Swimming Pool on base as well as at Perkinston Jr. College where he played football and studied his freshman year in college. He transferred to Southwest Texas State College (SWT) when his father was assigned to Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio. While there, he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha, the Student Senate, and was an assistant dorm director.
After graduating from SWT in 1967 with his lifetime teachers certificate, he began his teaching career in Lockhart as the 8th grade coach and English teacher, and later moved to the high school. In the late 60s he was the training NCO of the 249th Military Police of the Texas National Guard. In 1974, he earned his Masters of Education from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio. He was principal at Prairie Lea High School, the athletic coordinator at Goodnight Junior High, coached football, basketball and track, and taught Texas and American History. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church for many years, where he was an usher, high school Sunday school teacher, UMYF sponsor, served on many Walk to Emmaus teams, and served on the administrative board.
Ted was a good man and loved by so many. The impact he had on family, friends, and the community will be felt for years to come. Former students still speak of his patience, encouragement, humor, guidance, and support. He was a wonderful father, grandfather, son-in-law, coach, teacher, neighbor, and friend. Of all his titles, his favorite role was being a loving father and grandfather. He was kind, caring, generous, and funny. He was always willing to help others, he loved making people laugh, loved dancing, loved his dogs and all animals, and enjoyed being surrounded by nature. He will be remembered fondly by all whose lives he touched.
Please join us in celebrating his life on September 16th at 10am at Pennington Funeral Home in San Marcos, Texas. Ted loved animals--especially golden retrievers. Donations can be made in his honor to Gold Ribbon Rescue (www.grr-tx.com), a non-profit rescue group for golden retrievers, or to an animal shelter/rescue group of your choice.