Arnold JAmes Webre
1926-2015
Arnold “Arnie” James Webre was born in Houston, Texas the 12th of April 1926, the eighth in line of eleven children to Ethel Posey Webre and Camille Joseph Webre. He attended St. Anne’s School, St. Thomas High School and Rice University. He was a member of St. Anne Catholic Church, St. Michael Catholic Church, River Oaks Country Club, Allegro, Petroleum Club, and the Knights of Malta.
Arnie worked for the family company for his entire adult life after a brief stint as a “cracker stacker” at Nabisco as a teen. He joined the US Navy after high school along with several of his brothers. When he returned, Arnie started as a salesman for Texas Brine Corporation in 1952 and held various jobs through the years until his retirement in 1999 when he held the position of President of the parent company, Texas United.
He was honest and ethical in all his dealings, as expressed by a customer in 1998. When asked by one of Arnie’s colleagues why he chose to enter into a large long-term deal with Texas Brine when other choices existed, he responded, “I trust Arnie to get it done.” His attention to detail, integrity and goal oriented approach helped him close the deal. His work was a very important part of his life.
Personally, Arnie was gentle, kind, compassionate and generous. He was a refined and humble man of few words who was a true gentleman. He really cared about other people. He loved parties, entertaining his family at home and spending summers in Galveston. He shared a deep faith with his siblings and made many lifelong friends. He enjoyed rodeo cookouts, salmon and deep-sea fishing, bird hunting, seafood gumbo, good barbecue and homemade strawberry ice cream.
He was predeceased by his parents Ethel and Camille Webre; wife, Brenda Blalock Webre; daughter, Bonnie Webre; sisters, Ethel Renn, Mathilde Chitwood, Mary Anne Snelling, Rosalind Fenner; and brothers, John Webre, C.J. Webre, Lloyd Webre, Clark Webre and Malcombe Webre. He is survived by sister, Sylvia Wolford; daughters, Jo Kathryn Gross, Tracy Vaught and Terry Webre; son, Arnold Webre Jr.; and grandchildren, Philip Gross, Travis Gross and Sophia Ortega.
The family wishes to thank the caregivers for their care, devotion and vigilance while caring for Arnie. Thank you to Brenda Hawkins, Sandra Fe Davis, Betty LandryMallet, Doris Washington, Della Franklin, Joanne Norman, Joella Citizen, Billie Burks, Carrie Rose, Shanae Venters and Koren Wiggins, all of whom helped him live a longer happier life.
The funeral mass is to be offered at ten o’clock in the morning, Thursday the 12th of November at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2140 Westheimer Road. The recitation of the holy rosary will commence at half-past nine o’clock Thursday morning.
Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception at Caracol, 2200 Post Oak Blvd.
The rite of committal is to take place at ten o’clock in the morning, Friday, the 13th of November at Grange Hall Cemetery in Marshall, Texas.
In lieu of customary remembrances, donations in Arnie’s memory may be directed to Alzheimer’s Association Houston and Southeast Texas Chapter, 2242 W. Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030.