Thursday, October 1, 2026
George Lee Holmgreen, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, passed away peacefully March 10, 2025. While his passing was unexpected, the impact he left on the lives of those who knew him will remain immeasurable and everlasting.
Born March 25, 1942, in Kerrville, Texas, to Charles George Holmgreen and Elisabeth Watts Holmgreen, George grew up in San Antonio with his sister, Lynne. He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1960 before attending the University of Texas, where he met the love of his life, Carol Colby. They married on June 4, 1966, beginning a nearly six-decade love story. Carol became his partner in every sense — his constant source of strength, laughter and unwavering support. Her steadiness and faith grounded him. Two years after they married, George earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree from UT.
After graduation, George and Carol packed up a station wagon — with a parakeet as their co-pilot—and moved to Beaumont, Texas, where he began his career as a pharmacist. Within a month, he was promoted to pharmacy manager, a testament to his dedication and work ethic. In 1971, they returned to Austin, where he continued his pharmacy career helping people heal for another 35 years. George loved mentoring the next generation of pharmacists, welcoming UT students as interns, and in 1992, he was honored as Preceptor of the Year.
In 2015, after 43 years in their Allandale Estates home, George and Carol relocated to Granbury, Texas, to be closer to their two sons and their families and enjoy a “slower” pace of life.
In retirement, George found joy in giving back. He volunteered at the Bullock Texas State History Museum, where he had a particular passion for the La Belle ship exhibit. He dedicated time to Heart of Texas Lab Rescue and spent years delivering Meals on Wheels, right up until just days before his passing.
A proud lifelong Longhorn, George’s passion for the University of Texas ran deep. Whether it was football, basketball, or baseball, he rarely missed a game or an opportunity to critique the officials for a missed call. On any given day, you would find George sporting a Texas hat and/or t-shirt; always a proud ambassador of his alma mater through thick or thin.
Beyond his love of sports, George was an avid traveler and a competitive tennis player, spending years on the courts at The Courtyard in Austin. As much as he loved the game, he loved the friendships it brought even more. He and his tennis crew traveled together to play in California and Mexico and to watch the pros at the U.S. Open and Indian Wells. His travels weren’t limited to the court — he visited nearly every state in the U.S. and explored sixteen countries, often with longtime friends Toni and Stan Post, the same couple with whom he and Carol shared a double-blind date in 1964. A double-blind date where both couples were happily married and remained best friends for 61 years.
His faith was a guiding force throughout his life. A cradle Episcopalian, George grew up in St. Mark’s, San Antonio; married Carol at St. David’s, Austin; and spent more than 30 years there as a Sunday school teacher and choir member. In Granbury, he became an active member of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, where he was a lay reader and a beloved presence at the Men’s Prayer Breakfast. In 2013, his faith was deepened when he traveled to Israel and walked where Jesus had walked.
George had a deep love for animals — especially his dogs. Duchess, his loyal Lab, accompanied him on home inspections for rescue placements, and CiCi, his most recent companion, would follow his every footstep, most likely waiting for her next snack. He found joy in feeding the backyard birds and looked forward to the annual return of the white pelicans to Lake Granbury.
And though he adored all creatures, his biggest love was for his family. He was endlessly proud of his wife, sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren, always eager to brag about them to anyone who would listen.
George is survived by his loving wife, Carol; sons Ron (Andee) and Drew (Andrea); grandchildren Payton, Brock, Reese, and George; grandson-in-law Wade Johnson; sister Lynne Gardner; nephew John Pat Gardner (Barbara) and niece Lisa McCord (Sean) and their daughter Reily; and many dear friends who became family along the way.
The Service of Burial of the Dead will be held Thursday, April 10, at 2 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 4530 Acton Hwy, Granbury, TX 76049. The Committal of Ashes will take place at St. David’s Episcopal Church, 301 E. 8th St, Austin, TX 78701, April 26, 2025.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Heart of Texas Lab Rescue (hotlabrescue.org), Hood County Meals on Wheels (mowhctx.org), Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd (goodshepherdgranbury.org), or St. David’s Episcopal Church (stdave.org).
In his final hours, when words had left him, George’s last gesture to the world was simple, strong, and true to who he was — he raised his hand, Hook ‘em Horns. Always horns up.
May angels surround you and saints welcome you in peace.
