F. Rhea Cromwell Jr., 81, of Waco, Texas, passed away at his residence Feb. 24, 2010, with his family by his side.Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, at Austin Avenue United Methodist Church with the Rev. Chris Mesa officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, at Grace Gardens Funeral Home Chapel.
Rhea was born in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, to the late Rhea and Elinor Cromwell. He graduated from Vernon High School in 1945 and studied engineering at the University of Texas. He married Bonnibel Bland of Taylor on Dec. 12, 1953. They met in a local civic theater group. They began their married life in Waco where he was employed by a local construction company to repair damage from thet tornado of May 1953. He continued in the construction business until being appointed head of inspections for the City of Waco. He was in the Savings and Loan business before forming the Cromwell Management Company in 1969. He was proud to serve on the McLennan County Appraisal District Board of Directors for 18 years, where he served as its chairman for 15 years. As a dedicated member of Austin Avenue United Methodist Church since 1954, he chaired the Building and Grounds Committee, overseeing the renovations of the sanctuary in 2004. Rhea will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, as well as a dear friend who was loved by all who knew him. His sense of humor and his musical talents, especially the piano, will be missed.
He is preceded in death by a sister, Ann Gondran.
He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; sons, Bland Cromwell and his wife, Jennifer, and Frank Cromwell and wife, Debbie; grandchildren, Leighton and Rhett Cromwell, Jennifer Henegan, Alyson Ellis and husband, Dwayne, and Adrian Anzaldua; sister, Harriet Kerr and husband, Leonard; and brother-in-law, Al Gondran.
Rhea was born in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, to the late Rhea and Elinor Cromwell. He graduated from Vernon High School in 1945 and studied engineering at the University of Texas. He married Bonnibel Bland of Taylor on Dec. 12, 1953. They met in a local civic theater group. They began their married life in Waco where he was employed by a local construction company to repair damage from thet tornado of May 1953. He continued in the construction business until being appointed head of inspections for the City of Waco. He was in the Savings and Loan business before forming the Cromwell Management Company in 1969. He was proud to serve on the McLennan County Appraisal District Board of Directors for 18 years, where he served as its chairman for 15 years. As a dedicated member of Austin Avenue United Methodist Church since 1954, he chaired the Building and Grounds Committee, overseeing the renovations of the sanctuary in 2004. Rhea will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, as well as a dear friend who was loved by all who knew him. His sense of humor and his musical talents, especially the piano, will be missed.
He is preceded in death by a sister, Ann Gondran.
He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; sons, Bland Cromwell and his wife, Jennifer, and Frank Cromwell and wife, Debbie; grandchildren, Leighton and Rhett Cromwell, Jennifer Henegan, Alyson Ellis and husband, Dwayne, and Adrian Anzaldua; sister, Harriet Kerr and husband, Leonard; and brother-in-law, Al Gondran.
F. Rhea Cromwell Jr., 81, of Waco, Texas, passed away at his residence Feb. 24, 2010, with his family by his side.Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, at Austin Avenue United Methodist Church with the Rev. Chris Mesa officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, at Grace Gardens Funeral Home Chapel.
Rhea was born in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, to the late Rhea and Elinor Cromwell. He graduated from Vernon High School in 1945 and studied engineering at the University of Texas. He married Bonnibel Bland of Taylor on Dec. 12, 1953. They met in a local civic theater group. They began their married life in Waco where he was employed by a local construction company to repair damage from thet tornado of May 1953. He continued in the construction business until being appointed head of inspections for the City of Waco. He was in the Savings and Loan business before forming the Cromwell Management Company in 1969. He was proud to serve on the McLennan County Appraisal District Board of Directors for 18 years, where he served as its chairman for 15 years. As a dedicated member of Austin Avenue United Methodist Church since 1954, he chaired the Building and Grounds Committee, overseeing the renovations of the sanctuary in 2004. Rhea will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, as well as a dear friend who was loved by all who knew him. His sense of humor and his musical talents, especially the piano, will be missed.
He is preceded in death by a sister, Ann Gondran.
He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; sons, Bland Cromwell and his wife, Jennifer, and Frank Cromwell and wife, Debbie; grandchildren, Leighton and Rhett Cromwell, Jennifer Henegan, Alyson Ellis and husband, Dwayne, and Adrian Anzaldua; sister, Harriet Kerr and husband, Leonard; and brother-in-law, Al Gondran.
Rhea was born in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, to the late Rhea and Elinor Cromwell. He graduated from Vernon High School in 1945 and studied engineering at the University of Texas. He married Bonnibel Bland of Taylor on Dec. 12, 1953. They met in a local civic theater group. They began their married life in Waco where he was employed by a local construction company to repair damage from thet tornado of May 1953. He continued in the construction business until being appointed head of inspections for the City of Waco. He was in the Savings and Loan business before forming the Cromwell Management Company in 1969. He was proud to serve on the McLennan County Appraisal District Board of Directors for 18 years, where he served as its chairman for 15 years. As a dedicated member of Austin Avenue United Methodist Church since 1954, he chaired the Building and Grounds Committee, overseeing the renovations of the sanctuary in 2004. Rhea will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, as well as a dear friend who was loved by all who knew him. His sense of humor and his musical talents, especially the piano, will be missed.
He is preceded in death by a sister, Ann Gondran.
He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; sons, Bland Cromwell and his wife, Jennifer, and Frank Cromwell and wife, Debbie; grandchildren, Leighton and Rhett Cromwell, Jennifer Henegan, Alyson Ellis and husband, Dwayne, and Adrian Anzaldua; sister, Harriet Kerr and husband, Leonard; and brother-in-law, Al Gondran.
