Robert O. Himel III, of League City, Texas, passed away on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, in Webster, Texas, at the age of 69.

Robert, or Red as he was called by his friends, was born on June 2, 1950, in Los Angeles, California, to Robert Octave and Edna Himel. Robert O. Himel Jr. moved his family back to El Paso, Texas, in 1956 and was a lifelong Texan. Red used to say he got to Texas as soon as he could. 

Red Himel started his first job as a paperboy in El Paso, Texas, at age 13, where he earned enough money to buy his first motorcycle the following year. Proudly, Red rode to Jody’s house, and crashed her 14th birthday party, capturing the attention of his lifelong love. From that moment on, he took advantage of every moment riding with her up until he could no longer ride. Red graduated Eastwood High School and attended college at University of Texas at El Paso. He joined the army in 1969 and was deployed to Vietnam in 1970, where he earned the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, Good Conduct Medal, and the Bronze Star for meritorious service in a combat zone. Red came back home in 1971, where he worked for Hicks-Ponder and the Garment Industry for the next 21 years. It was also during these years that Red and Jody decided to start an interior design company in 1975, The Decorator’s Corner, where he first fell in love with carpentry. Red loved woodworking, and he poured his heart and soul into every piece he touched.  In 1992, Red moved to Crosby, Texas, and became a math teacher for Crosby ISD. He stayed in education teaching all levels of math, his favorite being AP Trigonometry and Calculus, until he retired in 2012. Throughout his life, Red was a giver and enjoyed giving back to the community and serving his country through the Republican Party of Texas, and he also served as Prescient Chairman and Election Judge for Harris County. Red worked with the Lions Club in Crosby, Texas, the Crosby Athletic Booster club, where he served as President for 2 years, and the Mardi Gras ZKrewe Club in League City, Texas.  Red lived a very full life. He loved his wife of 50 years, his family, carpentry, motorcycles, a cold beer, good scotch, great company, and a good joke shared with good friends. 

Red is preceded in death by parents, Robert O. Himel Jr. and Edna Handy Himel and by his brother-in-law, Doyle Coats. 

Red Himel is survived by his wife, Josephine (Jo) Mary Wylie Himel, sister, Linda Marlene Himel Coats, sons, Robert Scott Himel and wife Barbara, John Edward Himel and wife Katie, daughter Rebecca Mary Himel, and his 7 grandchildren, Trenton, Savannah, Madison, Nathan, Cameron, Scarlett, and Mathew. 

The family will receive friends on Thursday, June 4, 2020, at 6:00PM with a Vigil at 7 o’clock at Crowder Funeral Home, 1645 East Main, League City, Texas, 77573. Friends are invited to Red and Jo’s home after the service for food and drinks.

A Graveside Ceremony will follow on Friday at 11:30AM at the Masonic Cemetery in Caldwell, Texas, with Military Honors, 1400 West 12^th Street, Caldwell, Texas, 77836. Friends and Family are invited to gather after the ceremony at the Surry Inn restaurant at 403 TX-21 / Presidential Corridor E; Caldwell, Texas, 77836. 

Flowers and Charitable gifts may be sent to the funeral home or to the American Cancer Society.