NATHAN WHITE McGREW IV

Nathan White McGrew IV departed his earthly home on April 25, 2025.

Nate was born in Holton, Kansas and raised in Topeka, Kansas and graduated with an aeronautical engineering degree from Kansas University, where he was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

A blind date to a Jayhawk’s basketball game with a girl named Marge would lead Nate to meet the love of his life; Marge would become his cherished wife of 67 years. Nate and Marge were married in her hometown of Hinsdale, Illinois in 1957. Following their marriage, Nate continued his military service as a Flight Officer in the U.S. Navy, serving in Pensacola and then San Diego. Nate and Marge later moved to Fort Worth where Nate joined some of the brightest minds in the world as a tech and structural engineer for military aircraft at General Dynamics. While there, Nate was involved in ground-breaking aeronautical design work, such as taking part in design of cutting-edge fighter aircraft structures such as the F-16, F-111, B-58 Hustler and others.

Nate never met a stranger. He was gregarious and had the “gift of gab” according to his wife. A devoted husband and loving father, he was bigger than life and his loss will leave a giant hole in all our hearts. While raising his four daughters, he loved hosting neighborhood fireworks on the 4th of July, piling everyone who’d fit in the station wagon to see the drive-in movies, and planning wonderful family vacations.

Nate loved playing golf and tennis, especially with his special Dry Sac cronies Bob Doby, Andy Thompson and Tom Turner. Nate was an avid gardener – an early member of the FW Garden Club and President of the FW Rose Society in the 70s. He loved Benito’s, Joe T Garcia’s, and to sing in the choir and entertain with his beautiful singing voice.

He and Marge had wonderful times at their home in Sun Valley, ID avidly hiking, collecting Western art, wining-and-dining and enjoying life with family and friends, and loved traveling with special friends Bob and Bette Richins.

Nate was active in church, and a generous patron of the FW Symphony, Van Cliburn Foundation, Jewel Charity, and Sun Valley Symphony among others. He was a member of River Crest Country Club for over 60 years, and held memberships at Ridglea CC, The Fort Worth Club, and Elkhorn Golf Club in Sun Valley. Nate was recently honored as the longest-running owner of his Sun Valley Creekside residence and served as the president of its HOA for many years.

Nate’s cherished wife Margery Meyers McGrew preceded him in death by just six months. He was also preceded by his parents and sister, Jeanne McGrew Ellermeier.

He is survived by his four daughters, Gwendolyn Purvis (Arlynn “Lindy”), Mary Lynn “Mimi” Karnes (Keith), Jennifer Kloss (Jim) of Boise, ID, and Margery “Maggie” Thorp (James) of Gulf Breeze, FL; his grandchildren, Roy Purvis, Maggie Purvis, Mary Alex Dani, Jack Tamburro, Anne Marie Tamburro; and two great-grandchildren, River and Lennon Long.

Nate’s Celebration of His Life will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 17, at All Saints Church, 5001 Crestline Road.