Henry, Genevieve Vollentine: Pillars of the community

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Childhood sweethearts, Genevieve Bradley and Henry Vollentine, met in grade school and grew up down the road from each other. They married in 1946, continued their romance and went on to share 62 years of marriage.

As a couple, Henry and Genevieve raised three children. The family grew and the couple welcomed five grandchildren. The family grew some more and welcomed one greatgrandchild before Henry died. One more great grandchild came along before Genevieve died. Since then another greatgrandchild has sprung from their union.

Henry and Genevieve loved to take family vacations and traveled as far and wide as they could. Among memorable vacations is the Caribbean cruise the family enjoyed in 2005. Other family memories include tamales and chili on Christmas Eve, huge Thanksgiving dinners, Henry's love of his garden and cooking, and Genevieve's love of bridge and quilting, as well as the enormous celebration of Henry and Genevieve's 60th wedding anniversary.

While being unified, the couple made separate and complete educational decision, before their marriage and each went on to have long and fulfilling careers.

Henry, a nearly life-long Gonzales resident, was born in Lavaca County and moved to Gonzales at the age of one. He attended school in Gonzales and was a member of the Class of '41, he did in fact graduate from high school in La Grange, when his family moved away for two years. After graduation, Henry attended Texas A&M.

In 1943 Henry put education on the back burner to serve his country. He joined the United States Army and served for three years, seeing action in France and in Germany, in the European Theater of WWII. Henry earned a Purple Heart, three Bronze Medals and an EAME Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars and an Oak Leaf Cluster.

On June 8, 1946, Henry married his sweetheart and the couple moved to College Station where he completed his Bachelors in Civil Engineering two years later. The couple Immediately moved to Austin, where Henry enrolled as a law student. He received his Doctorate of Law, but never considered himself a Longhorn – he was an Aggie through and through.

In 1951 Henry opened his law office in Gonzales. In 1970, he bought Call Lumber Company. He also purchased lumber yards in Nixon and Shiner.

He served as Gonzales County Judge for 26 years. He was also active in community affairs, serving on several boards and commissions, including: the Gonzales Bank Board of directors for 10 years, on the Golden Crescent Council of Governments (GCCOG) for 14 years and The Texas State Library Advisory Committee for two years.

Henry was also member of several community clubs and organizations, such as: the Masonic Lodge, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He was also a member of the State Bar of Texas and licensed to practice in the Western District Supreme Court. In 1990 Henry won the GCCOG Statesmanship Award.

After taking the office of County Judge, Henry was instrumental in setting up the first Emergency Medical Services Program and equally instrumental in securing funding for the construction of the County Jail in 1974, as well as the renovation and restoration of The Gonzales County Courthouse.

Genevieve, a native of Gonzales County, graduated from Gonzales High School in 1941. She went on to Graduate from the University of Texas in 1945. She then taught in Freer, Navasota and Austin, then went on to have a 29-year career as Gonzales County School Superintendent, a role she assumed from her father who had served for many years.

Genevieve was instrumental in the establishment of the Gonzales County Historical Commission (GCHC) and The Gonzales County Archives. She guided the creation of Pioneer Village, spearheaded the renovation of the Gonzales County Jail and developed tour routes of historic Gonzales.

Genevieve also coordinated research for – and published – the Gonzales County History Book.

Among awards and commendations, Genevieve received The Texas Historical Commission's Distinguished Service Award five times in a row and earned the commission's Lifetime Achievement in Historic Preservation Award; Genevieve was called "The First Lady of Gonzales History" and remained active until just a few months before her death, attending GCHC meetings to plan the restoration of the Old Jail Museum. She was citizen of the year in 1983 and was also awarded the David B. Walshak Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chamber of Commerce in 2001.

Although Henry died first, Genevieve was the first touched by cancer. She never admitted to the thyroid cancer or radiation – she told her children she had “gotten a bad hair perm” – but the children knew something was amiss because she was passionate about the pending purchase of an historic Gonzales home and fell abruptly silent.

Both Genevieve and Henry had skin cancer. Henry's exposure came from the time he spent in his beloved garden. Genevieve's exposure is unknown.

Henry was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2003. He had been ill for some time but was hesitant to see a doctor. His health declined in 2007 and he died in 2008.

After Henry's death Genevieve became ill. She was taking blood thinners following heart troubles and had suffered with various health conditions. Doctors removed her from blood thinners on a Friday. She had surgery on the following Monday. She died that Thursday, from a dislodged blood clot.

It was discovered two weeks later, following post-surgical testing, she had in fact succumbed to the same variety of cancer that had stolen her beloved husband.

Over the years, Henry and Genevieve's surviving family and friends learned many lessons from this pair of life-long pillars of the community. Their final lesson was one of life-saving proportions. Their deaths left many people with the knowledge that Cancer does not discriminate and it is important to pay due diligence to one's healthcare, look and listen for the signs, have regular medical checkups and follow through.

Henry and Genevieve left behind a legacy of public service and humanitarianism. They also left behind a large and unified family. They are survived by their daughter Lucianne Vollentine Blakemore; sons Brad Vollentine and Sandy Vollentine; five grandchildren Ashley, Caris, Jess, Logan and Emma; three greatgrandchildren Sherri, Kara and Elizabeth; numerous nieces and nephews; and hundreds of friends.

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