Herbert J. Carper Jr.'s Obituary
Herbert “Herbie” Jackson Carper, Jr., 83, of Uvalde died on Sept. 14, 2020, at his residence in Uvalde. Herbie was born to Mary Lucille Miller and Herbert Jackson Carper, Sr. on Jan. 26, 1937, in Uvalde.
As the oldest of four, he grew up in Uvalde and graduated from Uvalde High School where he was an award-winning high hurdler. He was also an Eagle Scout, a founding member of the Sahawe Dancers, and played numerous musical instruments.
Upon graduation, Herbie attended Texas A&M University on a White’s Mines scholarship. He was a member of the Corp of Cadets and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1959.
On Mar. 4, 1961, Herbie married Janet Ladley in Uvalde. They returned to Texas A&M where he earned a Master’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1962.
He received his Ph.D. from Arizona State University in 1969, and then returned to San Antonio where he was employed by Southwest Research Institute. He performed research on various projects, including solar energy. As a result of that experience, he was asked to take a position as project manager of Crosbyton Solar Power Project near Lubbock in 1977. During the project, he took a teaching position in the Mechanical Engineering department at Texas Tech University. While there he received numerous teaching awards including the Halliburton Education Foundation Award of Excellence in education and research.
After retiring from teaching, the couple moved back to their hometown of Uvalde in 1998 where they both became active in St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. In Uvalde, Herbie finished his 20-year project and dream of a lifetime by completing the restoration of a Fairchild PT-19 aircraft. The plane was recognized at the 2009 Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture Oshkosh air show where it was awarded the Best Primary Trainer and Silver Wrench honors. In the years that followed he enjoyed taking friends and family flying around the Uvalde area.
Herbie will be missed for his endless wit, and the jokes he would tell whenever the opportunity presented itself, which was always. He loved Uvalde and keeping everyone who would listen entertained.
He is survived by wife, Janet of Uvalde; two sons, Kyle Carper and wife, Kim of Addison, and Keith Carper and wife, Jilane of Allen; grandchildren, Kameryn Carper and Kaleb Carper; sisters, Mary Lou Williamson and husband, Jim, Nancy Bennett and husband, Blaine, and brother Chris Carper, all of Uvalde; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held Friday, September 18, 2020 from 12:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. at Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home, Chapel of Serenity, 424 Geraldine Street, Uvalde, Texas.
A Funeral Service will be held at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Uvalde on Saturday at 10:00 A.M. followed by a graveside service at the Uvalde Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Philip's Episcopal Church at 343 N. Getty St. Uvalde, Texas, 78801.
Services are entrusted to Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home, 424 Geraldine Street, Uvalde, Texas
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