Grayson County TXGenWeb
 


Newspaper Source Unknown

Munson leaves legacy to city.
The death of William Benjamin Munson III is a way signals the end of an era in Denison. Munson  had headed the Denison  Cotton Mill and the old Citizens National Bank that both were founded by his grandfather and later headed by his father an then an aunt, Elois Munson.
The cotton mill is no more and the bank is part of a holding company today.
While the early day members of the Munson family donated land for public use, Munson headed the family foundation that was a major contributor to many educational and health projects in Denison.
The Texoma Medical Center owes much of its success to the largess of the Munson family today.
Munson, who was simply "Ben" to his family and a large circle of friends, played down any family project. He maintained a low key profile in everything he did and his accomplishments were of a far wider scope than many realized.
Munson was a kind, caring, gentle man, who seldom raised his voice. The positions Munson held in many industrial and educational fields was a tribute to his character. Munson could speak with firmness and authority when the occasion warranted, but always with complete knowledge of his subject.
Probably the greatest legacy that Munson left Denison is his family. They will continue to carry on the traditions of the Munson family, albeit in different fields than the Munsons who made the trek from Kentucky to Texas and stopped in Denison after crossing the Red Rive.





William Benjamin Munson III
1915 - 1989


Newspaper Source Unknown

Rites set for Ben Munson III

Denison - William Benjamin Munson III, 74, a member of the pioneer Denison family, died in  Monroe, La., hospital Friday after
a month-long illness.
Rosary will be said at 8 pm. Monday in the family home, 1130 West Bond, with the Rev. Emil Slovecek, pastor of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Denison, in charge. The body will be at the family home until the funeral.
A requiem mass will be read at 2 p.m. Tuesday in St. Patrick's Catholic Church with Slovecek, assisted by the Rev. Carl Vogel,
a former St. Patrick's pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery with arrangements by Bratcher Funeral Home.
The five sons of Munson and his sons-in-law, William B. Black III, W. E. Wilcox and Richard Hughes; and his brother, David M. Munson will be pallbearers.
Munson was a third generation member of a pioneer Denison family instrumental in the growth of Denison both industrially and culturally.
Munson's life was spent in working with and for Denison. He spent
40 years as head of the Denison Cotton Mill that was liquidated in 1977.
Munson served as chairman of the board of the Citizens National Bank that was founded by his grandfather. He served as an officer and director of Munson Realty Co., an officer of the Nueces Land
& Livestock Co., director of Capital Southwest Corp., and the W. B. Munson Foundation.
During World War II, Munson served as a member of the Cotton Duck Industry Advisory committee of the National War Protection Board and was a panel member of the regional War Labor Board.
He served as president of the Texas Cotton Manufacturers Association and a director of the Texas Manufacturers Association,
Munson was a former president of the Denison Chamber of Commerce, the Denison school board, the Denison Rotary Club where he was a Paul Harris fellow, served on the Denison Charter Commission and the Denison City  Council.
The Munson Foundation has been one of the major benefactors
of Texoma Medical Center, where Munson served as a board member. He served on the Denison Library Board and the board
of the Texoma Concert Association.
In 1981, Gov. Bill Clements names Munson to the Board of Regents
of East Texas State University in Commerce. Munson also served on the Board of Regents of Austin College in Sherman. Munson had long been one of the major supporters of the Sherman-based Austin College.
Munson finished high school in Denison, the attended Davidson College in North  Carolina, the University of Texas in Austin and the school of Textile Engineering at Georgia Tech.
Munson was instrumental in securing more recognition for Thomas Volney Munson, his great-uncle, who is credited with saving the European vineyards from phylloxera. He worked closely with Grayson County College toward the completion of
the T. V. Munson Memorial Vineyard, the ecology center and museum. The oenology center and museum were dedicated with a celebration last summer marking the 100th anniversary of T. V. Munson's receiving the Legion of Honor from France.
Munson was born in Denison on Aug. 3, 1915. He married Martha de Golian in Atlanta, Ga., on Feb. 25, 1941.
Munson was active in Boy Scouts as a youth, earning Eagle rank, and with five sons and two daughters, he continued to be active in Scouting as an adult, serving as a national council representative for the Texoma Valley Council of Boy Scouts and being awarded the Silver Beaver.
Munson had been active in church affairs in Denison, serving in recent years in numerous capacities at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Mrs. Mary Martha Black of Houston and Mrs. Regina Hughes of Boston; five sons, William Benjamin Munson IV, who is mayor of Denison; and John de Golian Munson of Denison, Peter K. Munson of Sherman; Richard C. Munson of Temple; one brother, David M. Munson of Dallas;
one sister, Mrs. Betsy Donaldson of El Paso; and 16 grandchildren.
The family will be at the family home, 1130 West Bond, Monday afternoon and evening.
The family suggests memorials be made to Texoma Medical Center.
Martha DeGolian Munson
1916 - 1993


Newspaper Source Unknown

Denison - Martha de Golian Munson, 77, widow of the late William Benjamin Munson III of Denison, died at her home in Denison following a short illness with cancer on Sept. 14, 1993.
Requiem Mass will be at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. The Rev. Emil Slovacek will officiate, assisted by the Rev. Carl Vogel. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Bratcher Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends at the family home, 1130 W/ Bond Thursday, followed by the Rosary at 7 p.m.
Mary Munson was born March 3, 1916, in Atlanta, Ga., a daughter of Felix and Regina de Golian. She attended Georgetown Visitation Junior College. Washington D.C. and High Museum of Art in Atlanta. She met her husband, Ben Munson III when he was a student at George Tech during the late 30s. They married Feb. 25, 1941, in Atlanta and moved to Denison. He died May 9, 1989.
Mrs Munson participated in the Dallas Women's Club, Dallas Garden Club, Dallas Museum of Art, Thalia, the Opera Guild and the D.A.R. She was a member of the Denison Service League, Denison Performing Arts, Inc., Sherman Musical Arts, Monodrama, Austin College and St. Patrick's Catholic Church, both in the Altar Society and as soloist.
Survivors include daughters, Mary Martha Black of Houston, Regina Hughes of College Station; five sons, Denison mayor William Benjamin Munson IV, John de Golian Munson of Denison, Peter K. Munson of Denison, Richard C. Munson of Dallas and Felex T. Munson of Round Rock; two brothers, Felix de Golian, Jr. of Atlanta, Ga, her twin brother, Richard L. de Golian of Winter Haven, Fla; a sister, Angelique de Golian Kidd of Alexandria, Va; and 16 grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Ben Munson IV, John Munson, Peter Munson, Richard Munson, Felix Munson, Felix de Golian, Jr. and Richard de Golian.
The family suggests memorials be made to the Martha and Ben Munson Memorial Garden, in care of Texoma Medical Center, 1000 Memorial Drive, Denison, Texas 75020.









Eloise Munson
1984 - 2012


The Herald Democrat
  July 26, 2012

Eloise was taken from us on July 16, 2012. She was not ready to say goodbye nor were we. Our angel was sent to us on November 5, 1984. Being baptized in the Catholic Church, she was named after her great-great aunt Eloise and her great grandmother Esther Elizabeth.
Eloise attended the Montessori School, Sherman, St. Luke's Episcopal School, Denison, St. Mary's Catholic School, Sherman, University of Houston, Houston Northeastern University, Boston, Mass. and Miami University, Miami, Fla.
She studied international business and the arts. Her love of the arts included: modeling, gourmet cooking, writing, painting and poetry. While attending the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas, she was certified as a personal trainer. Eloise's goal in life was to help others by advocating good health and nutrition. Her caring for animals was evident with her beloved horse, Renegade and her Russian Blue, DeGolian.
Eloise is survived by her parents, John deGolian Munson, and Sharon Steedman Munson; sister, Kassandra Kubala Hancock and husband Bannon; brothers, John deGolian Munson II and Benjamin Badgett Munson; niece, Annelise Elizabeth Hancock; grandparents, Badgett and Dorothy Steedman; aunts, Sara Coulter and husband Ray, Mary Martha Munson Black, Regina Munson Detora and husband Leighton; uncles, W. B. Munson, IV, and wife Susie, Peter Munson and wife Kathy, Richard Munson and wife Mia, Felix Munson and wife Lori; and numerous cousins. She is preceded in death by grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Munson, III.
A private funeral mass will be held at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be John deGolian Munson II, Benjamin Badgett Munson, Bannon Hancock, Ray Coulter, Stephen Littrell and Kurt Wells.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested that memorials be given in her name to Grayson County Shelter, 331 W. Morton, Denison, TX 75020. Eloise's mother was a founder of the shelter and Eloise grew up donating her belongings and time working there along side her mother.
Special Thanks to all of those who have supported the family.
Arrangements are under the direction of Fisher Funeral Home, located at 604 West Main in Denison.

Fairview Cemetery
Susan Hawkins
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