Retired Major Grady Walter Gaulke went home to his heavenly father on August 17, 2024. Grady was born on July 5, 1941 in Tampa, Florida. As a child, he would move and grow up on a wheat farm in Oregon with his mother Mary and stepfather Bud Gaulke.

Upon graduating from Days Creek High School, he received an appointment for the United States Air Force Academy. He graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and started his military career.

During navigator training in Waco, Texas, he met his first wife Paula Beth Johnson Gaulke while she was attending Baylor University. They married on November 27, 1964 in Odessa, Texas. Paula died on January 29, 1999.

Grady served in the Vietnam War during 1966 to 1974 flying 212 combat missions in the KC-135 and the F-4 aircraft.

He enjoyed a brief civilian stint at Texas Instruments in Dallas during the early 1970's before volunteering to return to active duty. On his return, Grady was stationed in Thailand having to leave his family behind in Midland, Texas while he again flew in the Vietnam War.

The military life took them many places over 20 years.

Following the war, he and the family were stationed in West Germany where they enjoyed touring Europe experiencing many cultures and international holidays.

Another favorite tour of duty was Alaska. Grady always enjoyed the outdoors, especially family fishing, skiing and viewing the visiting moose in the front yard. When he was working during this time, he often sat alert in a fighter jet pointing across the Bering Strait towards the Soviet Union.

His final tour was at Seymour Johnson AFB, NC as an Air Space Manager. Grady retired from the Air Force in 1985.

In 1988, the family moved to San Antonio and later to La Vernia in 1990.

Grady enjoyed teaching at Floresville High School and then La Vernia High School for several years. He especially relished making science real to his students and teaching topics like Engineering, Drafting, Physics and Calculus.

After the death of his first wife, Grady met and then married Kathleen Cunningham in December 2000 and remained married to her until her death in October 2007. As retirees, they enjoyed world travel sharing many adventures together and touching almost every continent.

After the death of his second wife, Grady met his precious wife Monica Armke at First Baptist Church and married in January 2008 and remained married to her until his death. they enjoyed traveling to many National Parks and forests and spending great time together. After an early life with years of war, Grady enjoyed a number of years of peace in La Vernia spending many hours in his beloved fruit orchard, singing in the choir, gardening, raising chickens, designing and building a solar system and just enjoying the good life together on their covered porch.

Grady was a true Man of God. A Bible scholar and a student of the Greek language as was used in the Bible and The Septuagint. Always looking to learn more concerning Biblical writings.

Grady is loved and will be greatly missed by his loving wife Monica; daughter, Mary Christine; sons, Robert and wife Lisa and Gary and his wife Erika; step-sons, Michael and his wife Bridgette and Matthew and his wife Audrey; step-daughter Sandy Armke; 17 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

A celebration of his life will be held at First Baptist Church of La Vernia at 11:00 AM on September 28, 2024. Inurnment will follow later at the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado.