Obituary of Jim Griffin Gunter

Jim Griffin Gunter, 95, passed away on Monday, April 16, 2018 surrounded by his loving family.

Mass of Christian Burial: 10 a.m. Saturday, April 21, 2018 at St. Patrick Cathedral, 1206 Throckmorton St, Fort Worth, TX 76102.

Visitation: 5 - 7 p.m. Friday, April 20, 2018 at Thompson's Harveson & Cole, 702 8th Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104.

Interment: Oakwood Cemetery, 701 Grand Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76164.

A reception will follow at Ridglea Country Club (Founders and Panorama Room), 3700 Bernie Anderson Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76116.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the First Tee of Fort Worth, P.O. Box 4767, Fort Worth, TX 76164.

Jim was born on May 29, 1922 in Fort Worth to Omar Lathrop Gunter and Beatrice “Bessie” Griffin. He was born at home on Summit Avenue just a block from his mother’s family home on Penn Street, which overlooked the banks of the Trinity River and was built by his great grandfather Col. James B. Griffin in 1876.

After losing his beloved father to illness when he was eight, Jim went to work delivering groceries on his bicycle to help support his family. It was during these years he developed a strong work ethic and good business sense that he kept for the rest of his life.

Jim enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942 where he was stationed in the Leyte Gulf area of the Philippines. In the Navy, he discovered his love of boating and being near the water.

After the war, he met the love of his life, Evelyn, and they have been happily married for over 60 years. Jim often said that his life didn’t begin until he met Evelyn.  In Evelyn, he found genuine kindness and goodness that he’d never seen before and she made him complete. They have five children, eleven grandchildren, and six great grandchildren with whom they always spent time. Being with family brought joy and happiness to Jim’s life.

In 1955, during the early days of television, Jim found his livelihood when he and Evelyn opened Jim Gunter Radio and TV on Camp Bowie Boulevard. Many Fort Worth families first TV’s and color TV’s came from this store. Jim took great pride in knowing that his family still owns and operates the business today, in the same location, over 60 years later. Several years after he retired from the TV business; Jim built Gunter’s 1187 Storage Park in Aledo where he went every day until a few weeks before his passing.

Jim was an avid golfer and was a 50-year member of Ridglea Country Club, where he was also a Past President and Chairman of the Board. He made many lifelong friends at Ridglea.

Jim was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. He always had a great smile when you greeted him. Beyond the smile, he had a genuine interest in all people that he met and made new friends every day.  Jim will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Mary Bransford, and his brother, Jack Gunter.

Survivors: Wife, Evelyn Gunter; children, Susan Green and husband Jimmy, Elaine Gunter, Griffin Gunter and Susan Olcott, Steve Gunter, and Tony Gunter and wife Lisa; grandchildren, Courtney Love and husband Larry, Brandon Dodd, Shelby Dodd, Kristan Berkovsky and husband Jody, Kali Rhodes, Ashlin Gentry and husband Bronson, Steven Gunter, Sarah Gunter, Lauren Gunter, Brandi Davis and husband Chuck, and Dustin Ray; six great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and extended family.