Henry "Hank" L. Gaines' Obituary
2LT US Army veteran Henry L. (Hank) Gaines, born in 1945 in St. Louis, Missouri, saw the world through many different eras before passing on August 17, 2025. After completing high school in 1967 and entering the US Army at Ft. Benning, Georgia, he saw much of Europe, serving as unit commander after infantry school. He served with a good code of conduct and was in the JAG Department in Germany. His paratrooper skills were put to the test in Europe, where jumps with his fellow soldiers of Co. C, 1st BN, 509th Infantry, 8th Inf. Div. fulfilled his love of country.
Hank returned to the States and moved to Dallas and began an almost fifty-year real estate and development career—first with Gaines Properties, then Gaines Real Estate Company. He was a huge supporter of education and the arts. He spoke fondly of lifelong friends he met at SMU’s Cox Business School and enjoyed visits to the Kimbell Art Museum and attending the Meyerson Symphony with his granddaughter Avery.
Hank fulfilled his desire to have a family and married Angela (Angie) Fitzgerald Gaines, who brought three sons into his life. Together, they partnered to raise Martin Fitzgerald Gaines, Andrew Garrison Gaines, and Nicholas Graham Gaines, while continuing to grow their real estate company. He was an Armstrong Cub Scout Troop 68 leader and BSA leader of Troop 68 - Highland Park United Methodist Church. He continued to help Nicholas and others as a scout leader with Lake Ray Hubbard Sea Scouts. Hank and Angie taught Sunday School at Highland Park UMC. He volunteered to help others through the North Dallas Rotary Club and Kaufman Lions Club. He was a consummate leader in all areas with characteristically calm strength. He was a huge fan of sailing, driving fast, and insisted on enjoying a dish of homemade pasta daily. His many friends include the Kuby Breakfast Boys, the Civil War Roundtable, and the Porsche Club of America (MRPCA).
After their sons graduated from HPISD, Hank and Angie moved to Kaufman, where they enjoyed their ranch and several canine friends. Hank enjoyed Saturday morning drives with fellow car friends, coffee with friends at the Lakewood Air Cooled Club, and the annual Mayo Car Rally in Hill Country’s beautiful Kerrville, Texas. Hank cherished his family and enjoyed spending quiet moments with his sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren: Erica, Avery, Jackson, Lacy, and Conner. He is survived by his wife Angie and sons, his three sisters—Pat Cashmore, Racine Dews, Phyllis Vandergriff (Larry), his brother Lee Hochstatter (Helen), and his sister-in-law Sylvia Martin of Kaufman.
If you would like to honor Hank’s memory, please consider making a donation in his name to SPCA of Texas (he was a believer in helping find four legged friends a forever home); or Canine for Warriors [https://donate.k9sforwarriors.org/] or a charity of your choice.
Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at 1:00 pm with reception at HPUMC Cox Chapel, 3300 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, TX 75205. Burial will be at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75211 at a later date.
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