Robert Earle McFadden

Robert Earle McFadden passed away on November 23, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO after a courageous battle with Lewy Body Dementia. He was 74 years old.

Robert was born in Eldorado, Arkansas and grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana where he attended school at St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Youree Drive Junior High and Captain Shreve High School. Robert earned his BS in Civil Engineering in 1974 from Louisiana Tech University at Ruston, LA. Along with his brother Mark, Robert survived polio during his childhood in the early 1950’s.

Robert began his career in St. Louis and moved to Houston in the early 1980s, where he spent more than 20 years at Universal Ensco and ultimately rose to President. Titles never mattered to Robert — people did. He treasured the opportunity to advance the careers of others and valued the many lifelong friendships built along the way. Robert later founded REM Pipeline Consultants and took on challenging pipeline projects around the world, working on six continents. He took great pride in his work with the U.S. government in Afghanistan, where he helped rehabilitate a natural gas pipeline to support desperately needed agriculture in a war-torn region.

Robert always put others first and remained deeply involved in his community. He served on the board of the YMCA of Greater Houston, eventually becoming Chairperson, and later received an honorary lifetime board membership in recognition of his dedication and leadership. Robert believed every child deserved a place in YMCA programs, regardless of race or financial status. Remembering his roots, he and his wife, Jody, established the Robert E. McFadden Endowment at Louisiana Tech to support an engineering graduate each year from Captain Shreve High School.

Robert loved traveling the globe with Jody, his children, and grandchildren, with many trips to Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Maui. To Robert, the destination didn’t really matter, as his greatest joy came from memories created with his family, cherishing every call of “Papa” from his grandchildren, being “convinced” to ride Space Mountain just one more time and enjoying a couple of Mai Tais along the way. At home, Robert enjoyed celebrating anniversaries with Jody at the Rainbow Lodge, sharing Tex-Mex at El Patio (“El Jefe”, no onions and of course, blue margaritas) with the family, and playing golf — which he called “goof” - always making sure to take as many shots as possible to the get most value for his money. Robert and Jody also shared a second home in Colorado Springs where he enjoyed the ever changing seasonal beauty found while hiking the trails and walking their “bad doggies” in the Garden of the Gods.

Robert is proceeded in death by his father, Carroll P. McFadden, his mother, Robbie Pardue McFadden Litton and his sister Carroll McFadden McDonald Nash.

Robert is lovingly remembered by his wife, Mary Jo (Jody) McFadden. He was the devoted father of Barry McFadden and his wife Eve of Houston, Texas, and beloved “Papa” to their daughters, Vivian and Lily; and Daniel McFadden and his wife Lisa of Rockville, Maryland, and the cherished grandfather of their children, Maggie and Marty.

He is also survived by his brothers, Mark McFadden of Arcanum, Ohio, and William McFadden and his wife Kathryn of Magnolia Springs, Alabama; his sister, Mary Katherine McFadden Samper, and her husband Edward Samper of Perry, Arkansas; and by numerous nieces and nephews.

Robert’s family and friends will remember him for his sense of humor, love, kindness, generosity, and the joy he brought into their lives.

All friends and family are invited to a “Celebration of Life” honoring Robert at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Brenner’s on the Bayou, 1 Birdsall Street, Houston, Texas.