Ed Webber

1931 - 2015

Former River Oaks City Councilman Ed Webber, a minister, family man, engineer and friend to many, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015. A childhood interest in radios led the young Oscar (as his Missouri family called him) to the Air Force and later a career in electrical engineering. After completing military service, Ed graduated with a master's degree from Southern Methodist University, soon ranking as a Professional Engineer. In 1952, Ed married Bobbie Jo Mason whom he met in Fort Worth. After joining her family (who lived on Waggoner Lane: named for their family in Westworth Village), these two traveled together, had three children (Joel Webber, Lori Webber Marshall and Stephen Webber), and lived as man and wife for 56 years. Webber's career began at Convair, which later became General Dynamics. He worked during the '60s at White Sands Missile Range, contributing work on radar systems to the space program. This was an exciting time for a family as the country reached for the moon. Ed himself reached a peak in his career in the early 1970s, leaving radar systems analysis for a new calling. He became an ordained minister, serving as administrator at a Southern Baptist church. At the same time he was elected and served a few terms as city councilman for the city of River Oaks. In a time when towns and churches needed work on their physical plants and modernization, his background as an engineer served him well. He became "contractor" for his two churches: Trinity Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Lake Jackson (Texas). Webber's activities included redesigning spaces for efficiency, implementing computer systems, and overseeing an office staff. In his 70s, Ed gave up some of these tasks and became minister of Pastoral Care; reaching out to church members who needed support and comfort. Ed is a grandfather of three: Carla Presley, Joel Edward Presley and Ben Webber; and great-grandfather of three, Amelia Gonzalez, Rocio Gonzalez and Gunner. Funeral: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, at Trinity Baptist Church, 620 Churchill Road, Fort Worth 76114. Interment: Greenwood Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, at Greenwood.