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Roll Call Tribute
Leo Berner Jr. September 20, 2011 9:26 AM
Published in The Bryan-College Station Eagle from September 20 to September 23, 2011
[Per funeral home his DOD was Sunday, September 18, 2011.]
Leo Dewitte Berner Jr.
1922 – 2011
Leo Dewitte Berner, Jr. died [Sunday] in Manor Park, Midland, Texas. He was 89. Memorial services are set for 10:30 am, Wednesday, September 21, at Manor Park Chapel in Midland, with Chaplain Larry Hood, officiating.
Leo was born February 11, 1922 in Pasadena, Calif., to Leo Dewitte Berner, Sr. and Maude Alena (Wright) Berner and grew up in Glendora, Calif. He attended Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., and received his bachelor's degree zoology in 1943. He was commissioned in the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1942 and served on an LST in the Pacific during WWII. After returning from active duty, he married Arvetta Jo Hankins June 28, 1947 in Monrovia, Calif. He went back to school and earned his master's degree and a Ph.D. in Oceanography from Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 1952 and 1957 respectively.
He had a varied work history including 3 years at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, four years at the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C. and then in 1965, he began his career at Texas A&M University where he started out as an Associate professor in the Oceanography Department. In 1967, he became an Assistant Dean of the Graduate College. He remained in the U.S. Naval Reserve and retired in 1972 as a Lt. Commander.
When he retired from A&M in 1987, he was a Professor of Oceanography and Dean of the Graduate College. In 1987, he was made Professor Emeritus Department of Oceanography, College of Geosciences and Dean Emeritus, Graduate College, Texas A&M University. They remained in College Station until 2002, when they moved to Midland. During his retirement years in College Station, he had more than 500 volunteer hours at the George Bush Library and Museum. He was an avid reader and enjoyed bird watching and playing cribbage with Jo and winning.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jo Berner; his two daughters, JoAnne Thomas and husband, Tommy, of Arlington Heights, Ill., Tina Ice and husband, Charles Ice III, of Midland, Texas; his sister, Elizabeth Szabo of Joshua Tree, Calif. He has four grandchildren, Stephanie Thomas of Indianapolis, Ind., Mark Thomas of Schaumburg, Ill., Charles Ice IV of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Travis Ice of Arlington, Texas. He also has one great-grandchild, Levi Thomas of Schaumburg, Ill.
The family is grateful for all of the wonderful care and support Leo received during his final days from the staff of Home Hospice and other caregivers.
Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland.
Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com
[Per funeral home his DOD was Sunday, September 18, 2011.]
Leo Dewitte Berner Jr.
1922 – 2011
Leo Dewitte Berner, Jr. died [Sunday] in Manor Park, Midland, Texas. He was 89. Memorial services are set for 10:30 am, Wednesday, September 21, at Manor Park Chapel in Midland, with Chaplain Larry Hood, officiating.
Leo was born February 11, 1922 in Pasadena, Calif., to Leo Dewitte Berner, Sr. and Maude Alena (Wright) Berner and grew up in Glendora, Calif. He attended Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., and received his bachelor's degree zoology in 1943. He was commissioned in the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1942 and served on an LST in the Pacific during WWII. After returning from active duty, he married Arvetta Jo Hankins June 28, 1947 in Monrovia, Calif. He went back to school and earned his master's degree and a Ph.D. in Oceanography from Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 1952 and 1957 respectively.
He had a varied work history including 3 years at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, four years at the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C. and then in 1965, he began his career at Texas A&M University where he started out as an Associate professor in the Oceanography Department. In 1967, he became an Assistant Dean of the Graduate College. He remained in the U.S. Naval Reserve and retired in 1972 as a Lt. Commander.
When he retired from A&M in 1987, he was a Professor of Oceanography and Dean of the Graduate College. In 1987, he was made Professor Emeritus Department of Oceanography, College of Geosciences and Dean Emeritus, Graduate College, Texas A&M University. They remained in College Station until 2002, when they moved to Midland. During his retirement years in College Station, he had more than 500 volunteer hours at the George Bush Library and Museum. He was an avid reader and enjoyed bird watching and playing cribbage with Jo and winning.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jo Berner; his two daughters, JoAnne Thomas and husband, Tommy, of Arlington Heights, Ill., Tina Ice and husband, Charles Ice III, of Midland, Texas; his sister, Elizabeth Szabo of Joshua Tree, Calif. He has four grandchildren, Stephanie Thomas of Indianapolis, Ind., Mark Thomas of Schaumburg, Ill., Charles Ice IV of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Travis Ice of Arlington, Texas. He also has one great-grandchild, Levi Thomas of Schaumburg, Ill.
The family is grateful for all of the wonderful care and support Leo received during his final days from the staff of Home Hospice and other caregivers.
Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland.
Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com
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