MARY BERNICE HATTON GILDNER, 89, of Arlington
TX passed away May 12, 2019, with interment in Moore
Memorial Gardens at Arlington.
Mary was born Nov. 16, 1929, in Ranger, TX, to Belton
Ray Hatton & Rosa Edith Adams Hatton. She attended Bullock
School near Ranger and Ranger High School in the Class of
1946. She married William Edward Gildner in Oct. of 1951
in Carmel, CA. An Arlington resident for 70 years, she was
a member of St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, Arlington
Woman's Club, Arlington Arts League, and Shady Valley Golf
Country Club. She was a former president of the Woman's
Golf Association and St. Maria Leisure Club; and co-founder
and former president of Bailando Club.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, William Gildner;
brothers, Dalton Hatton (RHS-1942) and Winfred Hatton (RHS-
1948); sister, Rozelle Hatton Sklenar (RHS-1960); & grandson,
Eric Patrick Gildner.
Survivors are son, Michael Ray Gildner; daughter, Lisa Anne
Leito and husband, Gary Richard; sisters, Dorothy Hatton
Godwin (RHS-1943), Peggy Hatton Lindsey (RHS-1951), Linda
Hatton Young (RHS-1963) and Jenna Vee Hatton Miller (RHS-
1954); grandchildren, Michael Brenton Gildner, Kelsey Shae
Gildner, William Chad Leito, Eryn Kayce Gildner, Jason
Richard Leito and Patrick Ray Leito; and great-grandchildren,
Aiden James Mears, Mia Isabelle Lomax and Aurora Quinn Lomax.
HUSBAND: WILLIAM EDWARD GILDNER, 84, beloved
husband, dad and granddad, passed away peacefully on
April 19, 2012, with interment at Moore Memorial Gardens
in Arlington, TX.
Bill was born April 8, 1928, in Bloomington, IL., to George
& Mae Gildner. He was captain of both the football and
basketball teams in high school but a later shoulder injury
cut short those interests. He attended Illinois Wesleyan
University and graduated from DePauw University in 1949
with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a major in economics.
A uniform was next on his list! During Bill's Army service
in the Korean War, he met Mary Bernice Hatton (RHS-1946)
of Ranger, TX. They were married in Oct. of 1951, at Carmel,
CA. Bill became a State Farm Insurance agent in Fort Worth
in 1953. He established the first Arlington agency in 1955
and by 1961, he became the district agency manager for
Tarrant County. His CLU financial degree and chartered
consulting degree were among many honors he received in
helping build State Farm SW key teams. His agency was one
of the top agencies in the company in both production and
profit. He retired in 1995. His dedication to his church,
St. Maria Goretti, and Catholic Charities, at home and
abroad, are well known. He could often be found on Sundays
taking communion to those unable to attend Mass. He was a
member of the Arlington DT Rotary Club for 32 years, Serra
International, & was a past president of Catholic Charities
in Fort Worth, the Great SW Assn. of Life Underwriters and
Director of Arlington Savings & Loan.
Bill & his wife built their home overlooking the Shady Valley
Golf Club in Arlington and were active members of the club,
also St. Maria Leisure Club, Bailando Dance Club and Arlington
Arts League.
"Grandad Bill" was preceded in death by his parents; a brother,
George Gildner; and a grandson, Erik Gildner.
Survivors were his wife of 60-plus years, Bernice; son, Michael
Ray Gildner; daughter, Lisa Anne Leito & husband, Gary; Bill's
sister, Rita Arnold of Milwaukee, WI; and six grandchildren,
Brenton, Kelsey & Kayce Gildner and William Chad, Jason Richard
and Patrick Ray Leito.