David Ross Thigpen

David Ross Thigpen went to be with his Lord on Nov. 24, 2008. He was born Jan. 29, 1937, in Riverside, Texas, to Inez (Holland) and Eddie Thigpen. He grew up in Fostoria and graduated from Cleveland High School where he was a very gifted baseball and basketball player. He also attended Sam Houston State University.He was employed as a research chemist for Shell Research in Houston for 35 years. He made major contributions to the development of tertiary oil recovery methods and is recognized as one of the world’s experts in this field. He was very active in many churches and is a member of First Baptist Church of Huntsville. He loved the outdoors and liked to fish and play golf. The joy of his life was time spent with his loved ones. He was deeply involved with his grandchildren’s sports and school activities.Survivors include his wife, Janie; son, Glenn Thigpen and wife Candy; daughter, Tracey Ernest and husband Stephen; adopted son, Roy L. Boyd and wife Kristine; grandchildren, Christina and Melissa Thigpen, and Tyler and Cody Ernest; special aunt, Betty Davison; brothers, D’Allen Thigpen and wife Louise, Hubert Thigpen and wife Martha, Bruce Thigpen and wife Vicki; sisters, Cecil Thomas and husband Charles, Mary Schomer, Carole Blake and husband Lonnie; and numerous nephews, nieces and extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Eugene and Bobby Thigpen.Services will be held Friday, Nov. 28, 2008, at 1 p.m. at the Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with interment to follow at 4 p.m. at Union Springs Cemetery in Corrigan, Texas. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008, at the funeral home.Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at www.shmfh.com.Sam Houston