CHARLES F. SPECK JR.

CHARLES F. SPECK, JR, beloved husband, father and "Popee" (to his granddaughters) went to Heaven on the 23rd of October, 2009. Charles was born in Victoria, Texas on the 12th of December, 1927 to Charles and Georgia Speck. He is survived by the love of his life, Norma, to whom he was married for fifty-nine years. His three sons; David (Beth), Michael (Sharon) and Stephen (Beth Ann) and their daughters (Popee's precious girls: Laura, Emily, Kalyn, Annie and Kelly) also survive him.Like his father before him, Charles Speck Sr., whose railroad career started with the early T&NO railroad, Charles, too, was a career railroader with that same line and then later with the Southern Pacific after their merger in the early 60's. As a young railroader, one of his first chores was filling the sand domes on old steamers; including #982 that still sits in front of Minute Maid Park today. After retirement in 1982, he then worked alongside his three sons in the sporting goods business.There was never a more Country-loving, patriotic man than Charles. He always flew Old Gloryand knew every rule on flag etiquette and proudly enforced them on all around him. Popee's greatest love was for "my thirteen": his family. We all look forward to seeing you again some day, at the end of those great rails that lead to Heaven.Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from half past five o'clock in the afternoon until seven o'clock in the evening, with recitation of the rosary at seven o'clock on Monday, the 26th of October in the Jasek chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.Mass of Christian Burial is to be celebrated at ten o'clock in the morning on Tuesday, the 27th of October, at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 6622 Haskell Street in Houston. Rite of committal will follow, via an escorted cortege, at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery.Honored to serve as pallbearers will be his three sons and Randy Jatzlau, Johnny Baker and Scott Gregurek.