Donald Dale Grantges

Donald “Don” Grantges of Arlington, Texas, passed away peacefully at his home on May 12, 2026, surrounded by family and friends. He was 83.

Don was born on November 14, 1942, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Madison and Agnes Grantges. He grew up in Fort Worth, attended Paschal High School, and continued his education at Texas Wesleyan University.

Don served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy from 1969 to 1972.. As a Navy pilot stationed in Guam, he flew a variety of aircraft across the South Pacific. His love of flying continued throughout his life as a private pilot, and for more than 40 years his Bonanza served as an unofficial air taxi for friends and family across the United States, Mexico, and Latin America.

After his military service, Don built a respected 40-year career in real estate as a broker and developer. He established The Grantges Company and was instrumental in numerous land and residential developments across Texas, including work connected to the Gaylord Hotel in Grapevine. He found success in business, but those who knew him best understood that his greatest pride came from the people, places, and relationships he helped bring together.

Don was blessed with two great loves. He married Carol Grantges in April 1970, and together they built a home and raised their children in a life rooted in love, laughter, and shared purpose. After Carol’s passing from cancer in 2001, Don began another beautiful chapter with Mary Sansores, whom he married in 2007. Together they divided their time between Arlington and their home in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo overlooking the Pacific, where they shared their love of Mexico, deep-sea fishing, and good company. Throughout their 18-year marriage, they traveled the world with family and friends, building memories wherever they went.

"Mr. Wonderful", as he was called, never met a stranger and rarely sat still for long. He brought the same energy to every part of his life, whether he was golfing at Shady Valley, fishing off the coast of Mexico, playing cards with lifelong friends, hosting dinner parties, or simply gathering people around him. That same spirit carried him through multiple marathons, including San Francisco and New York, and helped him build a lifetime of friendships marked by laughter, generosity, and stories that only got better with time.

He was a generous supporter of conservation and community causes, including Bat Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, Bamberger Ranch, Meals on Wheels, St. Thomas More, the Carmelite Monastery of Arlington, and Christ Smiles Dental Mission work in Mexico. Through his work with Bat Conservation International, Don helped protect Bracken Cave, one of the most ecologically important bat habitats in the world and home to the largest known concentration of mammals on Earth. It was the kind of legacy that fit him perfectly: practical, lasting, and rooted in a love for wild places and future generations.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Carol Grantges; his brother, Jerry Grantges; and his sister, Donna Caraher.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Grantges; his children, Albert Grantges and wife Wendy, Bert Grantges and wife Molly, and Mary Ellen Grantges and partner Juan Lopez; his grandchildren, John Henry, Carol, Josey and Gary Clack III, Quinn, and Bridget; one great-grandson, Gary Clacky IV; and his brothers, Louis and James.

Don lived with joy, generosity, humor, and a deep appreciation for the people around him. He leaves behind a family who adored him, friends who cherished him, and a legacy measured in kindness, stories, service, and belonging.

Service details will be shared by the family. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County — or, in true Don fashion, to his friends at the gin table to cover any outstanding losses.