Roll Call Tribute

Grimes Funeral Chapels obituary
728 Jefferson, Kerrville, Texas 78028 tel:830.257.4544

Robert Warren McDaniel
September 26, 1929 - July 5, 2015

Service Date: July 23, 2015

Robert Warren McDaniel (AKA Bob or Tex) died Sunday, July 5, 2015, at 3 pm at the Kerrville, Texas VA Hospital from only-recently-diagnosed pancreatic cancer and other medical complications. He will be missed by his family and friends, who take comfort in the hope promised by Jesus Christ that he is resting in a far better place now. He is survived by his wife, Pat, his son, David, his daughter, Beth, his granddaughter, Nikki, his grandsons, Dusty and Hunter, and his great grandson, Blake.

Robert was born on September 26, 1929 in Beaumont, Texas. He is a civil engineering graduate of Texas A&M University, Class of 1951, where he was commander of Company B Engineers his senior year. He subsequently served in the Army Corps of Engineers in Korea with the rank of First Lieutenant. His active service was 1951 – 1953. He served as a water supply officer for MASH units around Pusan, Korea. After service, he pursued a several decades long career as a consulting civil engineer for municipal water and sewage treatment systems for cities and communities all around south central Texas.

Robert also found time to write and publish a book entitled Patillo Higgins And The Search For Texas Oil about his great uncle Patillo Higgins, the man whose conviction, drive, and determination single-handedly jump started the Texas Oil business at the beginning of the 20th century. In the late 1980s Robert “retired” to own and operate Hilltop Christmas Tree Farm at his home near Cat Spring, Texas. He finally semi-retired to the Texas Hill Country around Medina in 2003; just a couple of miles from his great uncle Patillo’s vacation cabin where Robert and Pat spent their honeymoon in 1951.

Robert was quietly interred on Monday, July 20, 2015, at 9 am at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetary in San Antonio, Texas, in a private ceremony. His public post-interment memorial service will be on Thursday, July 23, 2015 at 3 pm at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. The specific Committal Shelter for the service will be set by the cemetery staff on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 after 2 pm.

It was Robert’s fervent wish that no ephemeral commemoratives such as flowers be made for him. Instead, he requested that anyone desiring to commemorate him to please do so by making a donation to Bandera County Helping Hand, Food Pantry Program (830-796-8300).