Roll Call Tribute

Bryan Pope Cartall
October 5, 1949 - June 8, 2016

Bryan Pope Cartall, born October 5, 1949, in Del Rio, Texas, to Dr. Louis M. Cartall and Mary Eleanor Wiseman Cartall died June 8, 2016, with his loving wife and best friend, Rebecca and children by his side. He is survived by his devoted wife Rebecca P. Cartall & three children, Louis Clay Cartall (San Antonio) and daughters Quinn Cameron Cartall (Atlanta, GA) and Talia Leigh Cartall (Los Angeles, CA); sister Cynthia Cartall Robinson & husband Dr. C.W. Robinson, Jr. (San Antonio); nephew Hunter Cartall Peyton & wife Kari (Dallas); his cousins Dana Durst Grassi & husband Bobby (NYC), John Durst, esq., and wife Stephanie (NYC) and Peggy Durst Stromenger & husband Philip (West Palm Beach, FL).

Dad left Del Rio to attend boarding school at the San Antonio Academy and met classmates who remained lifelong friends, returning later to graduate from Del Rio High School in 1967. He attended Trinity University and later Texas A&M University where he was a proud member of the Corps of Cadets. Dad was a remarkable man who started flying airplanes in his early teens, accompanying his father who taught him to fly. He received his pilot's license at age 17 and remained one helluva twin-engine pilot and enthusiast throughout his life. From motocross to flat-tracking on motorcycles, scuba diving, lettering in gymnastics at A&M and winning the SW Conference for Floor Exercises, to being an avid golfer with a 5-handicap until his health failed, Dad always pushed himself and us to excel. He enjoyed the outdoors and loved hunting with the family and friends, instructing us at a young age to respect nature, animals and be proficient marksmen (and to never bring a knife to a gunfight). His cooking skills were legendary! Dad taught us to walk with Jesus daily & to live by the Golden Rule. He was a man of his word and was always there when we needed him.

He met Mom on a blind date in 1983, and he never tired of telling the world how she was the light and love of his life. Dad worked for Southern Pacific Railroad as a locomotive engineer for seventeen years then decided to go to law school.

He graduated from St. Mary's School of Law in San Antonio in 1989, and was licensed to practice law where he ventured from being a prosecutor in the D.A.'s office to private practice where he was able to fulfill his dream of helping the Davids of the world fight the Goliaths. His verdicts were large and his clients loved & respected him. Our Dad was a giver, putting others before himself and doing more pro-bono work than many lawyers put together, always reminding us that blessings flow from God, not man. He was a father figure to countless friends who, when the word went out Dad was dying, drove and flew in from all over to express their gratitude to him for all he'd done and taught them over the many years. Bryan Pope Cartall was a world-class Renaissance Man and words cannot express how greatly he will be missed.

The family is extremely grateful for the loving care received by his wonderful physicians, doc friends, and staff at St. Luke's Baptist Hospital, who worked tirelessly to make both our father's and our time so meaningful.

Dad donated his corneas to give the gift of sight and his body to science (The University of Texas Health Science Center) in order to help future physicians. The family encourages all to earnestly consider following in his footsteps by being a donor.

Memorial service: Thursday, July 28, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Downtown San Antonio (404 N. Alamo Street, SAT 78205)

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