Gene Randall "Randy" McBride

1933 - 2022

Gene Randall "Randy" McBride, 88, soared Home to his savior on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. He was born Oct. 31, 1933 in Del Rio, Texas. His family moved to Fredericksburg in 1946 when his father established McBride Chevrolet, located on the Llano Street-facing side of the present-day Chase Bank building. He attended Fredericksburg High School through his junior year before graduating from San Saba High School.

He studied at Texas Tech University before marrying his high school sweetheart, Jo Joyce Wahl, in 1954. They lived in several West Texas cities, where he worked for his father's car dealerships and the DeCoty Coffee Co., before starting a lunch counter-style restaurant in an office building in Big Spring.

They moved back to Fredericksburg in 1961 to start a family, including two children - Haley McBride and Penny McBride. For a period of time, they owned the Wishing Well Gift Shop in the present-day Headquarters Hats location and McBride Paving Co.

But Randy spent the majority of his career in the construction industry. He was a long-tenured draftsman for Stein Lumber Company and designed many of the homes in Carriage Hills. He was recruited by Dallas-based Delta Steel Building Systems as a district sales manager and continued to work in that capacity when the company was acquired by Ceco Building Systems, a premier manufacturer of custom-engineered metal buildings. His projects won numerous national awards and he was named top-producing district manager.

Randy loved Fredericksburg and passionately served the community throughout his life. He was active with the Fredericksburg Jaycees, serving as President and helping to organize the state convention. He served on the board of the Fredericksburg Heritage Federation, raising money for historic preservation with events like Damenfest and the Wild Game Dinner. He was President of the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce in 1970 and a Gillespie County Fair Director for more than 20 years. He was often called upon as Master of Ceremonies for banquets and pageants and was the voice of the Gillespie County Fair Parade for more than 30 years. He attended Zion Lutheran Church, where he served as an usher and on the church council. In 2015, he completed training to become a Stephen Minister, offering personal care support to those who are hurting. Many will remember him as the parking lot trolley driver at Hill Country Memorial, a volunteer role he adored.

He is survived by a sister and brother-in-law, Patt and Bill Garner; son and daughter-in-law, Haley and Sandy McBride; daughter, Penny McBride and her partner Tom Dinh; three grandchildren, Jessica Lowrance and her husband, Skeeter, Sloan McBride and Jennifer McBride; two great-grandchildren, Coy and Case Lowrance, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Jo Joyce; parents K.N. and Alice McBride; sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Travis McKinley; and in-laws, Monroe and Helen Wahl.

The family greeted friends on Wednesday, Oct. 12, from 4 to 6 p.m., in the chapel of Schaetter Funeral Home, Fredericksburg.

On Thursday, Oct. 13, they greeted friends in the Zion Lutheran Church from 2 to 3 p.m., with Funeral Services at 3 p.m.

Graveside services and interment followed in the Greenwood Cemetery.

Pallbearers included: Haley McBride, Sloan McBride, Skeeter Lowrance, Kenneth Terry, Greg Oehler and Dan Wade Crenwelge.

Honorary pallbearers: Tom Dinh and James Reeves.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to Hill Country Memorial Hospice, Zion Lutheran Church or to the charity of one's choosing.

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

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