Morris Gelber

Morris Jacob Gelber passed away on January 14, 2019 surrounded by family members. He was born in Bryan, Texas, on January 26, 1931, to William F. and Fae Driver Gelber. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1947, and graduated from Texas A&M in 1951, at the age of twenty, as a commissioned officer in the United States Army. He attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterrey, California, where he became fluent in Russian. He served in military intelligence in the Army Signal Corps, the early incarnation of what is now the NSA. His postings included Salzburg; Tokyo; Frankfurt; Fort Meade, Maryland; and Saigon during the Vietnam War from 1968-1969.

Retiring from the Army in 1971, he returned to his hometown and taught math in Bryan public schools for seventeen years. Subsequently, he earned his EdD, then taught math education at Texas A&M for five years and calculus and college algebra at Blinn College for fifteen years before retiring for the last time at age 80.

He married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth (Betty) Reid Powell, in 1957, and they had 42 loving years together. He enjoyed reading, languages, puzzles of all kinds, math, cooking, teaching, and travel. He was a long-time member of First United Methodist Church in Bryan, where he and Betty were founding members of the Koinonia Sunday School class. He was a gifted mathematician; dedicated teacher; loyal friend; and loving husband, father, and grandfather who will be remembered for his kindness to others, joy for life, and wry sense of humor.

Morris is preceded in death by his wife; his parents; his sister Cecil Reese and her husband Morris T. Reese; and his brother Joseph R. Gelber.

He is survived by his children, Bill Gelber and his wife Debbie; Ann Harwood and her husband Wallace; and Mary Cree; his grandchildren, William (Alex) Gelber, James Gelber, Wally Harwood, Elizabeth Harwood, and David Cree; his niece Susan Utter and her husband Tom; his niece and nephew Leah Gelber and Jody Gelber; numerous cousins; and many dear friends.

The family would like to thank Dr. Joseph Roman, Crestview Retirement Community, and Hospice Brazos Valley for their loving care during Morris’s illness. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to FUMC, Hospice Brazos Valley, or the Rotary Club of Bryan Texas, Inc.

Visitation will be from 5-8 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at Hillier Funeral Home, 2301 East 29th St. in Bryan. A celebration of Morris’s life will be held at 2 pm on Sunday, January 20 at FUMC, 506 E 28th St., Bryan, followed by burial at Bryan City Cemetery.