H. R. "Lefty" Block went to be with the Lord on August 19, 2022. He was born in Orange, Texas on October 3, 1935 to Louise Theodore and Lucyle Baker Block.

Lefty had a long and successful career in law enforcement for the State of Texas. He began his career in 1957 when he joined the Texas Department of Public Safety as a state trooper. He was stationed in Orange and Humble, Texas until he was promoted to Texas Ranger in 1968. This promotion brought him to Brown County where he was stationed in Brownwood, Texas. He then moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he was promoted to Texas Ranger Sergeant and later Assistant Senior Ranger Captain. In 1985, Lefty was promoted to Senior Ranger Captain and he remained in that position until his retirement in 1992.

He was a quiet and meticulous man, but when he spoke, people listened. Telling detailed stories was one of the things he was always willing to do though, when asked. Family, friends and acquaintances often asked, and they were never disappointed.

Lefty, Dad, or Grandad, believed in family first and loved them all dearly. He is survived by his wife, Jameye, of Fredericksburg; daughters, Brenda Simmons and husband Jerry, of Brownwood, and Bobbie Ratto and husband Russell, of Bangs, Texas. He is also survived by grandsons, Bo Ratto and wife Britney, Cade Ratto and wife Laramie, Jayce Simmons and wife, Tylin, and granddaughter, Amy Simmons and husband, Andy Burton. He was also a great-grandfather to Lenleigh Ratto, Karsyn Ratto, Olive Ratto, Cavitt Ratto and Posey Ratto. He is also survived by one brother, William T. Block, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Thomas J. Block.

The family greeted friends on Thursday, August 25, from 4-6 p.m. in the Schaetter Funeral Home chapel in Fredericksburg, Texas.

The funeral service was held on Friday, August 26, at 10:30 a.m. at the Texas Rangers Heritage Center in Fredericksburg, Texas.

Graveside services followed at 2 p.m. at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the Former Texas Rangers Foundation, P. O. Box 3195, Fredericksburg, Texas, 78624 or to the charity of your choice.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent at www.schaetter.com

Funeral arrangements under the direction of Schaetter Funeral Home, Fredericksburg, Texas.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Fredericksburg Standard Radio-Post from Aug. 29 to Sep. 12, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for H.R. Block

Sponsored by Schaetter Funeral Home - Fredericksburg.

2 Entries

Brett Colt Michel

June 1, 2024

Brett Colt Michel, I was your great nephew , you will be truly missed, God rest your soul and thank you.

Robin (Robby) Edward Deal

January 30, 2024

I was a young administrative employee at the Texas D.P.S. headquarters in Austin when "Lefty" Block was Senior Captain of the Texas Rangers. Though he was one of those "larger than life" personalities, he was kind, courteous, and a true "old school" gentleman in every respect. I've had a lifetime of mild to moderate chronic health issues, including MS, that I always tried to mask by keeping myself very athletically toned. It's just a facade because I have always been uncoordinated, weak, and easily fatigued despite the level of training and visible muscularity I maintained. Therefore I could never realistically aspire to have a law enforcement or military career that I had fantasized about as a young man. I had a good friend, Texas Ranger G.W. Hildebrand, who told me once that Captain Block really liked me and had suggested numerous times for him to persuade me to go into the academy and become a trooper because he really wanted me as Ranger as soon as I became eligible. Captain Block was not aware of my shortcomings and inabilities, nor were most people, but the fact that such an admirable hero of a man spoke so highly and approvingly of me was one of the biggest compliments of my life. For a young man with so much shame and disappointment because of my condition, he gave me a gift of compliment and acceptance that I am forever thankful for. May God grant him rest, peace, and joy unspeakable on that great day ahead.

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