Iris Eckhardt Paine Webre

IRIS ECKHARDT PAINE WEBRE, 95, of Houston, Texas peacefully passed away on Sunday, April 26th. She was born in Houston on August 26, 1913 to Robert Edward Paine, Jr. and Frances Irene Eckhardt Paine. She attended Lanier Junior High, San Jacinto High School and Our Lady of the Lake College. She was married to Lloyd Posey Webre in 1942. After Lloyd's passing in 1984, Iris served as Chairman of the Board of Texas United Corporation until her death. Iris provided leadership and common sense to complex business decisions and activities. She was strong, confident, genuine and personable and will be greatly missed by many. A fourth generation Texan, Iris was raised by her grandfather, Doctor William Rudolph Eckhardt and her grandmother, Iris Dee Kent, as her mother, Frances Irene Eckhardt passed away from the Spanish influenza of 1918. Iris was greatly influenced by her grandfather and went on many trips to see sick patients. Later in life, Iris volunteered many hours in the medical field. One place she worked was the Well Baby Clinic at Jefferson Davis Hospital. She was a faith-filled member of St. Michael's Catholic Church, was a Dame of the Order of Malta and a Lady of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher. She was an outstanding supporter of many Catholic Schools, including, but not limited to, the University of St. Thomas, Incarnate Word Academy, St. Thomas High School. Iris received her Honorary Doctorate in 2004 from The University of St. Thomas. She was also Executive Director of the Iris and Lloyd Webre Foundation which funds the advancement of Christian education. She also belonged to the St. Joseph Women's Auxiliary and Charity Guild of Catholic Women. She was involved in multiple religious and charitable activities until her death. The extensive charity work that Iris was involved in earned her numerous awards. Iris was also an active member of the Houston Country Club, Blue Birds, Colonneh Club, and the Junior League of Houston. She was a supporter of the Opera, the Arts and enjoyed traveling. In addition to her parents, Iris was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd Posey Webre, and her half brother Robert Edward Paine III and numerous cousins. Iris is survived by her sister Suanna Paine Hovey of Kerrville, Texas. She is survived by all her children residing in Houston, Frances Camille Webre Tichenor and her husband James Hawley Tichenor, Jr., Lloyd Posey Webre, Jr. and his wife Nancy Eppes Webre, Mary Iris Webre, Roberta Webre Rude and her husband David Hayner Rude, She is survived by her grandchildren Elizabeth Tichenor Greening and her husband Robert Lee Greening of Dallas, Texas, Mary Louise Tichenor Metzinger and her husband John Michael Metzinger of Cary, North Carolina, Frances Iris Tichenor Allen and her husband Nathan Evan Allen of Houston, Texas, James Lloyd Dobson of Houston, Texas, Courtney Corinne Webre of Lexington, Virginia, and Nancy Iris Webre of Houston, Texas, David Hayner Rude III of Austin, Texas, Robert Lloyd Rude of San Antonio, Texas. She is survived by her great grandchildren, William James Greening, Camille Anne Greening, Amy Louise Metzinger, Rachel Elizabeth Metzinger, Charles Posey Allen and Graham Evan Allen. Friends are invited to a visitation from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with a rosary prayer service at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 29, at Earthman Funeral Directors, 8303 Katy Freeway. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, April 30, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, 1801 Sage Road. Rite of Committal will follow at Glenwood Cemetery, 2525 Washington Avenue. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Houston Catholic Diocese Vocation office Attn: Father Dathoang, 1700 San Jacinto, Houston, Texas 77002 solely for the seminarians studying to be priests at St. Mary's Seminary in Houston. Please visit an online memorial at www.mem.com.