Carl Paul Amburn, Jr., 86, died at his home on Dec. 7, 2013, in Kerrville, Texas. He was born in Oklahoma City, OK to Carl Paul Amburn, Sr. and Ruth Young Amburn, the oldest of six children. He attended Capital Hill H.S. where his parents also attended. He was an avid and versatile football player and outstanding student and was pursued by the University of OK to play there. He decided instead to join the U.S. Navy/ Air Force. He married Gloria Thomas in 1947. After the service, he went to work at Oklahoma Gas & Electric. From that time on, his profession in engineering took him to many companies and places. Because of his wisdom, experience, and astute judgment of character, he selected highly motivated personnel to work with him, which helped to further his career, even helping our country in the Department of Defense for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He led projects with Kerr-McGee Industries, Midland Cooperative, Inc., National Cooperative Refinery Association, Fish International Constructors, Foster Wheeler Corporation, The Litwin Corporation, and Brown & Root USA, Inc., until he retired in 1992. Carl lived abroad briefly in Argentina and France with his family because of his career.
He met Mary Roesler Durham on a Space City ski trip in Zermatt, Switzerland. They had never met until that magical trip. Their love was blessed by 40 years of marriage, which began on October 25, 1973.
He was a remarkable, intelligent, strong-willed, hard working, and giving man. Through his leadership and organizational skills, he helped begin many Charity Golf tournaments for "Tomorrow's Child" of the Lutheran Social Services of the South in Houston & in the Hill Country. He was a Mason & Shriner member at one time, volunteered at CAM (food pantry), at the Take Five Club (respite care program) of the Dietert Center, and also at Lutheran Camp Chrysalis. He was a servant of God and actively involved at Zion Lutheran Church in Houston, New Hope Lutheran Church in Missouri City/Sugar Land, & Zion Lutheran in Kerrville. He enjoyed singing in the choir & dancing. Playing golf at Sugar Creek, Riverhill, & Schriener was his retirement job.
Carl was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Clara Louise, & brother Russell. Surviving siblings are Gail Amburn, Evelyn Schidler, & Ruby Long. He is survived by his wife, Mary Amburn, his three children: son, Mike Amburn and wife, Elisabeth; and daughters, Lisa Long, and Nancy Fisher; his 7 grand-children and spouses: Misty and Salem Joseph, Windy and Eddie Joseph, Ashley and Brett Shanks, Grant and Lindsey Amburn, Tristan Fisher, Ambyr Fisher, Liam Fisher; and 8 great-grandchildren: Kayli, Peytin, and Chase Joseph; Jesse and Jett Joseph; and Elisabeth and Will Shanks. The grandchildren and spouses will be serving as pallbearers.
The funeral & burial will be Saturday Dec. 21, 2013 at 3:00 PM at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home and Cemetery in Houston. There will be a memorial service in Kerrville Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, at 3:00 pm at Zion Lutheran Church .
Memorial contributions may be given to The Take Five Assistance Fund at the Dietert Center, 451 Guadalupe St, Kerrville, TX 78028.