ROBERT STEWART, JR.
1919-2018
Robert Stewart Jr., age 98, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, the 25th of April 2018, after a brief illness. He was born in Philadelphia, PA on the 8th of November 1919, and spent his early years in Brunswick, GA. His family moved to Port Arthur, TX in 1937. He graduated from the University of Texas and entered the US Navy in 1942. As a member of the Greatest Generation, he proudly served in the Central Pacific theater and was discharged in 1945.
Bob joined the Second National Bank of Houston, later renamed Bank of the Southwest. He served in various positions until becoming president of the bank in 1967. After retiring as Vice Chairman in 1981, he served as a trustee of the Clayton Foundation for Research.
He was one of the earliest members and a longtime supporter of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church. Bob was a member of Houston Country Club and Colonneh Club, and a former president of Lakeside Country Club. He served on many corporate and charitable boards including Memorial Hospital System, Houston Chamber of Commerce, Salvation Army, Goodwill Industries, and YMCA of Greater Houston. Additionally, he lent his investment expertise as a member of the investment advisory committees of the University of Texas, Texas A&M University, and University of Houston.
Bob was an exceptional gentleman and a man of integrity. He was kind and generous, with a wonderful sense of humor and a gift for storytelling. His greatest joy was his family. He especially cherished spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. We will treasure the many years that we were fortunate to have him in our lives.
He was preceded in death by his parents Robert Stewart, Sr. and Helen Gilmore Stewart, his first wife Edith Carter Stewart and second wife Helen Carter Stewart, stepdaughter Bonnie Arnold, and sons William Robert Stewart and Edward Gilmore Stewart. He is survived by his daughter Stephanie Stewart Jamison and husband Bryan, nephew Kenneth Carter and wife Mary, ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren. His family is greatly appreciative of the years of devoted service by his caretakers Ivon Kazetsky, Dalisay Campos, Marta Cazares, Esther Lemus, and Soila Alfaro.
Friends are cordially invited to greet the family during a visitation to be held from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Monday, the 30th of April, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
A memorial service is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Tuesday, the 1st of May, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the adjacent Bagby Parish Hall.
Prior to the memorial service, the family will have gathered for a private interment service at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston.
In lieu of customary remembrances, and for those desiring, memorial contributions in Robert’s name may be directed toward St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Rd., Houston, TX 77056; or to the charity of one’s choice.