Peter O. Shull

Peter Otto Shull, Sr. of Seabrook, Texas, devoted husband and father, passed away on Friday, September 21, 2012 at the Stillwater Medical Center in Stillwater, Oklahoma, at the age of 89.

Mr. Shull was born on June 22, 1923, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to Onufer and Pauline Shull. The son of Russian immigrants, he was raised in Elizabeth and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1941. Upon graduation, he worked at General Aniline and Film Corporation (GAF) in Linden, New Jersey, as a lab technician and did coursework at the Newark College of Engineering (NCE).

Mr. Shull enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps in November 1942 and served his country during World War II as an altitude chamber technician at Tyndall Field in Panama City, Florida, and the Lincoln Army Air Field in Lincoln, Nebraska, until his honorable discharge in February 1946.

After leaving the service, Mr. Shull returned to GAF as a lab technician and commenced night school at NCE (now the New Jersey Institute of Technology). He was awarded his Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering in 1955 and began his chemical engineering career at GAF's Linden plant. He transferred to the Calvert City, Kentucky, plant in 1966 and finally to the Texas City, Texas, plant in 1967, where he worked as the Manager of Process Engineering until his retirement from GAF in 1987. Mr. Shull had a successful and fulfilling career as a chemical engineer and held many patents for engineering processes he developed.

As satisfying as his career was to him, his family meant everything to him. Peter was a devoted husband to his beloved wife and soul mate, Margaret, whom he met in 1944 while on leave during World War II. They married on September 13, 1947, and shared almost 55 years together before her death in 2002 after a long battle with Alzheimer's. Peter considered it a blessing that in their last years together he was able to care for her every day. He was also a devoted father to his children, Peter, Jr. and Mary Margaret. He loved being with his children and helping them grow. He was proud of them and their accomplishments and always wanted the very best for them.

Mr. Shull was an avid fan of crossword puzzles and word jumbles. He loved to dance: hearing good big band or polka music could turn any floor into a dance floor for him! As a young boy, he played in the balalaika orchestra of Sts. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church. He also enjoyed woodworking and built work benches, spice racks, Adirondack chairs and many other practical items.

Peter Shull, Sr. is survived by his son, Dr. Peter O. Shull, Jr. of Stillwater, Oklahoma; his daughter, Mary Margaret Lawrence and son-in-law, Jack Lawrence, of League City, Texas. He leaves behind four nieces and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Margaret; his parents; and his three sisters, Anne Heinrich, Mary Phillips, and Olga Szmaydy.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 26, 2012, from 5:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Crowder Funeral Home in League City, Texas. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 27, 2012, at 10 a.m. at Webster Presbyterian Church in Webster, Texas, with interment to follow at Forest Park East Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to Webster Presbyterian Church, 201 West NASA Parkway, Webster, Texas 77598.