Paul Glenn Eckels

Paul Glenn "Buck" Eckels, 80, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, the 7th of May, after a brief, brave battle with cancer. Buck was born the 6th of February 1931, in Temple, Texas to Mildred Louise Daniel and Robert Young Eckels. The family moved to Houston in 1942, he attended Lanier Junior High and Lamar High School in Houston and graduated from Texas A&M University in 1952. He remained a loyal and proud Aggie all of his life, establishing a Charitable Trust and the Eckels Endowed Mays Business School Professorship at Texas A&M in 2005.
Buck served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army, during the Korean War in Company A, 73rd Tank Battalion, 7th Infantry Division. He was awarded an Award of Commendation, Ribbon with Medal Pendant for meritorious service.
He negotiated oil leases after the war as a land man for oil and gas businesses in Corpus Christi before starting his career as a title underwriter. In 1976, he purchased Lawyers Title Insurance Company of Houston after working there for several years. Buck owned and ran the company as president, chair and sole stockholder for 30 years before he retired. He was well-known and highly regarded for his success and business integrity.
Buck generously shared his time, talent and resources serving on the board of directors for the March of Dimes and Houston Grand Opera and made significant donations to many charities including Cancer League, Citizens for Animal Protection, the Heart Association, Child Advocates, Bnai Brith, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and many more.
Buck enjoyed spending time at his much loved Sierra Diablo ranch outside of Van Horn, Texas. For over 24 years this was a gathering place for family and friends for hunting, fishing and exploring caves and Indian campgrounds. At the Sierra Diablo he also raised longhorn cattle and helped the Big Horn Sheep Association and the Texas Parks and Wildlife service to develop the first successful Big Horn sheep breeding and stocking program in the state.
Buck will be remembered for his warm sense of humor, generous philanthropy, love of family, especially his love for devoted wife Sandy and his strong Aggie pride. He was a wise mentor, respected businessman, much loved father and uncle, talented craftsman and loyal friend. He will be missed by many.
He was preceded in death by his brother, the late Robert Y. 'Bob' Eckels, Jr.; and sister, the late Joy Hershey. He is also preceded in death by his sons, Daniel McCabe Eckels and Karl Douglas Eckels. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Sandra Crow Eckels; his son, Paul Glenn Eckels, Jr.; and sister, Jean Rusk. He is also survived by nieces and nephews, Carol Adams and husband Hill, Janet Adamek and husband Gilbert, Robert Eckels and wife Jet, Jeff Rusk and wife Susan, James Rusk and Sabrina; great niece, Anne Adams; and great nephew, Robert Adams, who loved Buck as their grandfather, and numerous other loving relatives.
Yesterday evening, family and friends gathered to share remembrances during a visitation at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
The funeral service is to be conducted at two o'clock this afternoon, Wednesday, the 11th of May, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons.
The Rite of Committal will follow, via an escorted cortege, at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery in Houston.
Honored to serve as casket bearers during the services are Hill Adams, Robert Adams, Ted Daniel, Robert Eckels, James Rusk, Jeff Rusk, Paul Sarrat and Chris Siracusa.
Serving as honorary pallbearers are Ed Avery, Jack Baumgardner, John Coolidge, Bob Evans, John Petteway, Grant Roane and Bill Schroeder.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Buck Eckels' name be directed to Class of '52 60th Anniversary Corp of Cadets 21st Century Scholarship, Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Dr., College Station, TX, 77480; or to the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, 12 Godfrey Place, Wilton, CT, 06897; or to Living Water International, P.O. Box 35496, Houston, TX, 77235.