Ervin Buchta

Ervin Alois Buchta, 85, of Altair, TX passed away at his home in Altair, TX on November 19, 2025, surrounded by his wife and two of his children.

He was born November 17, 1940, in Guy, TX, the third son of Joseph F. Buchta, Jr. and Helen Ann Klima Buchta on the family farm.

He attended school in Guy and Needville. He graduated from Needville High School in 1959. He attended the University of Houston and graduated in 1965 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He worked one year for an oil production company in Corpus Christi, TX, where he met and married his wife, Catherine Jerkofsky, on June 18, 1966. They then made their home in Houston, where he began a 30-year career with FMC Corporation in their oil field equipment division. He worked from Senior Design Engineer to Project Engineer with trips overseas and offshore Gulf of Mexico. He was a member of various engineering societies and was a licensed Professional Engineer. He obtained several patents for the company. While working for FMC he moved the family to May, TX near Brownwood as Quality Control Engineer for four-one and half years, then back to Houston.

After retiring in 1996, he and his wife made their country home next to Sandy Creek in the woods near Rock Island, TX, enjoying the wildlife and visits by their children and grandchildren.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Nada, TX and had a great love for God, made thousands of Rosaries to send to the Missions, was a regular blood donor for years, giving 20+ gallons in his lifetime, and assisted in the health care of his mother-in-law and mother in his home.

His interests were woodworking, target shooting, and tinkering in his workshop.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Raymond Buchta, brother George Buchta and wife Margie, and brother Jody. He is survived by his wife, Catherine Buchta, sister-in-law Carol Buchta of Guy; sons, Thomas Buchta of Gatesville and David of Austin; daughters, Brenda Kowalik and husband Brandon of Victoria, Teresa Borski and husband Jude of Houston; foster son Richard Varela and wife Anna of Austin; grandchildren: Sarah Mayo and husband Mark, James Griggs and wife Jessica, Justin Griggs, Michael Borski, Kevin Borski, Katie Borski, and foster son's daughter Victoria Varela; step-granddaughter Lilly Kowalik; step-grandsons Michael Kelsey and Chris Kelsey and wife Tanya; step-great-granddaughters, Natasha and Sabreena Kelsey; and great-grandchildren, Elliot, Emmet, and Eris Mayo, and Damian David Griggs.

Pallbearers are James Griggs, Justin Griggs, Mark Mayo, Mark Buchta, James Buchta, Jimmy Sivils.

Honorary pall bearers: Michael Borski, Kevin Borski, Chris Kelsey, Mike Kelsey

Visitation will be at 9:30 A.M. at St. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church in Damon, Tx, followed by a rosary at 10:30 A.M, and funeral service at 11:00 A.M. with Deacon Jason Sulak officiating services. Burial to follow at St. Cyril & Methodius Cemetery, Damon Tx. Memorial mass will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Nada, Tx at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Cyril & Methodius Church in Damon, TX, St. Mary's Catholic church, Nada, TX, or charity of your choice