Elbert Berton Greynolds' Obituary
Elbert “Bert” Berton Greynolds, Jr., of Plano, Texas, died December 23, 2015, following a long illness. He was born on January 25, 1939, in Harlan, Kentucky, to Elbert Berton Greynolds, Sr. and Juanita Asher Greynolds. Bert graduated from Harlan High School in Harlan, Kentucky. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management. He served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany. Upon leaving the armed forces, he received his Master of Professional Accountancy and Ph.D in Business Administration from Georgia State University, where he served as a professor of accounting. In 1974, he was recruited to the Edwin L. Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University (SMU), where he taught accounting and later earned tenure. During his 35 year career at SMU, Dr. Greynolds served as Associate Professor of Accounting, Chair of the Accounting, Business Law, and Tax Department, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies Program, and Associate Dean for Bachelor of Business Administration Program. In the early 1980s, Dr. Greynolds recognized the emerging importance of personal computing skills in business, and developed the business school’s first personal computing course. During his tenure at SMU, Dr. Greynolds received several Outstanding Teaching Awards and retired from the university as Professor Emeritus of Accounting. Upon retirement from SMU, Bert enjoyed traveling with Ann, his wife of 51 years, and time with his children and grandchildren. He became an avid and skilled photographer in retirement, serving as photographer of countless family gatherings and grandchildren’s sporting and other events. Bert was a generous and thoughtful Christian man who enjoyed helping others, and he was a member of First Baptist Church of Plano. When illness diminished his vision and mobility, Bert never complained nor quit doing the activities he loved. Rather, he came up with innovative, technology-enabled ways to continue his photography, travel, and time with family and friends. He treasured his trips to Harlan, where he reconnected with childhood friends; trips to Maryland and Washington, D.C. to visit his son and his family, and vacations with his daughter’s family. Despite increasing physical limitations, he thoroughly enjoyed regular Saturday morning gatherings with his “airplane buddies” and frequent trips to his friends at Camera Stop. He is survived by his wife, Claudia Ann Greynolds, daughter Deborah Lynn Greynolds Stanford, son-in-law Richard Stanford, grandchildren Garrett Lawson and Lillianne Rose Stanford, son Eric Berton Greynolds, daughter-in-law Elena Greynolds, grandsons Daniel William and Alexander (“Sasha”) Michael Greynolds; sister Mary Gay Vesely, brother-in-law Jim Vesely, nephew Scott Youmans and wife Kelly LoGiudice. The visitation for Elbert Greynolds will be from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Monday January 4, 2016, at Restland Funeral Home. A memorial service for Elbert will be held on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at 2:30 PM in The Memorial Chapel at Restland Funeral Home in Dallas. The family wishes to express its gratitude to the Intensive Care Unit nurses, doctors, chaplains, and Palliative Care Department at Baylor Scott and White Hospital in Plano, Texas. The family is also grateful to Lemlem, who provided home health care and friendship over the past year, and the many close friends who have provided help and comfort during this difficult time.
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