DANIEL MOORE MUNDINGER
1925-2017
Daniel Moore Mundinger 92, passed away in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on December 22, 2017 with his family by his side. Dan was born, October 2, 1925, in Washington, D.C. to Helen Tavenner Mundinger Lowe and William George Mundinger. Prior to settling in Baton Rouge, Dan spent his early childhood in Cuba where his father operated a sugar cane plantation.
Dan attended Louisiana State University and transferred to the University of Texas at Austin where he entered the United States Navy’s V-12 College Training program. He graduated from UT with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. He was subsequently commissioned as an Officer in the U.S. Navy and was stationed on the Pacific Coast of the United States.
While at UT, Dan met and fell in love with Nancy Riley Whatley from Dallas. They married at Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. In 1953, the couple moved to Baytown, Texas and joined St. Mark’s United Methodist Church.
Dan enjoyed a long and successful business career. He began his career as Vice President of Maintenance and Construction for Ethyl Corporation in Pasadena, Texas. In the early 60’s Dan left Ethyl and started Bayport Construction Company. The company’s building projects included The Baytown Sun, the First America Bank and numerous facilities within Lee College, Exxon and Chevron and in greater Baytown. Dan and business partner and friend, Jim Bailey, built and managed the Bay Plaza Shopping Center in Baytown, Landa Plaza in New Braunfels and Pine Plaza in Silsbee. A partnership of Dan, Jim and Gene Hazelwood built the Baytown City Hall.
In 1966, Dan and Jim assembled a group of investors and purchased Spoetzl Brewery becoming the owners of Shiner Beer. Dan became the general manager of the brewery and was elected President of American Small Brewers Association. He served on the Board of the National Brewers Institute. Dan and Nancy traveled the country with the Shiner Beer Team.
Dan was President of the Baytown West Little League, served on the Board of Directors of the Baytown Area Water Authority and was a proud member of the Rotary Club of Baytown for over 40 years.
After 54 years of marriage, raising four sons and achieving success in several business ventures, his wife, Nancy, died in 2004. After Nancy’s death, Dan married longtime friend, Carolyn McKowen, of Baton Rouge. They spent many happy years together in the company of friends watching their families grow.
Dan’s true passion, outside of his family, was his love of all things outdoors including camping, boating, fishing and deer and turkey hunting and he instilled this love in his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed hunting excursions to Wyoming, New Mexico and Colorado where he often took his grandchildren. He was happiest at his deer lease in the Texas Hill country sitting around a bright warm campfire with friends and family. Dan was a kind and gentle spirit who led a long and blessed life. He earned his blessings through hard work and his dedication to God and family. He lived the Rotary creed of “Service Above Self.”
His spirit will forever be present at his Baton Rouge childhood home, Tiger Stadium, the University of Texas, Burnett Bay, and the hills of Llano and Mason County.
Dan, lovingly known as Pooty by his family, was preceded in death by his wife Nancy, parents and brothers, William and John Mundinger. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Mckowen Mundinger of Baton Rouge, and her wonderful family. He is also survived by his four sons and their wives, Will and Winifred Mundinger, Dan Jr. and Catherine Mundinger, Calvin and Ann Mundinger and Erich and Betty Mundinger. He adored his grandchildren: William George Mundinger III and his wife, Leigh, Elizabeth Mundinger Malone and her husband, Patrick, Robert Adam Mundinger, Samantha Mundinger Edson and her husband, Eddie, Daniel Moore Mundinger III, Casey Mundinger Barbles and her husband, Ryan, Jennifer Pike Hodges and her husband, Willy, George Lewis Mundinger, Riley Mundinger Landry and her husband, Beau, and Hilary Bird Mundinger, and his ten great-grandchildren. Also surviving Dan are his nephews and nieces Wade and John Mundinger, Jr. and his wife, Linda and their children, John Lanham Higginbotham III and his wife Adrienne, Cynthia Scofield and her husband John, Genie Bentley and her husband Jim and Nancy’s brother and sister-in-law Calvin and Julia Whatley and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at St. Marks United Methodist Church (3811 N. Main) in Baytown, Texas Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 2:00 pm.
Dan will be interred at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in memory of Dan may be made to the Baytown Nature Center 6213 Bayway Dr, Baytown, TX 77520.