Raymond Platzer, Sr.

Raymond Culver Platzer Sr., 91, passed away on September 16, 2003, in Brenham, Texas. Services will be held Saturday, Sept. 20, 2003, at 11:00 a.m. at Memorial Oaks Chapel in Brenham, Texas. Pastor Henry A. Sanders of Faith Outreach Christian Center in Navasota, Texas, will be officiating. Burial will be at Wesley Brethren Church Cemetery in Wesley. Raymond Platzer was born to Harry Smallwood and Beulah Austin Platzer on Sept. 6, 1912, in League City, Texas. He became a native Houstonian at the age of 3 years. He met and married Lydia Weiss Platzer on Oct. 19, 1935, in St. Paul s Lutheran Church by Rev. Hartman. Lydia s mother, Alvina Grote Weiss gave them a wedding reception on her farm in Wesley. Raymond and Lydia lived a wonderful, loving and happy life together. They truly enjoyed the birth and life of their only child, Raymond Culver Platzer Jr., born Nov. 9, 1936. Raymond Jr. passed from this life on March 17, 1992, with melanoma cancer. During Raymond and Lydia s life together as a God-fearing couple, they helped establish the First Lutheran Church in Pasadena, Texas. As a child, Raymond was christened and baptized and confirmed in Trinity Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas. He spent seven years as a student in Trinity s Church School. When he and Lydia were newly married, they attended Park Place Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas this was in the 1930s to the 1970s. This is also where Raymond Jr. was confirmed. In 1977 after retiring, they moved back to the family farm outside of Brenham and began attending the Wesley Brethren Church. In 1979 they began helping form the Brenham Bible Church with Pastor Crook. At this present time, they are congregational members of Faith Outreach Christian Center, an interdenominational church in Navasota, Texas, where Henry A. Sanders is pastor. Pastor Sanders is the son of the Platzers life-long friend, Elizabeth Sanders. They have actually known him all his life and ministry. Raymond was a member of the Pipe Fitters Local 211 for 55 years and a member of the Local 211 retiree club. He was also a member of United Association for 55 years. With his pipe fitting skills, he helped construct industrial plants like Dow Chemical and Monsanta and also helped maintain maintenance on them until he retired from Arco Co. in February 19, 1976. He was also a fire chief for Mykawa Volunteer Fire Department for seven years. Raymond was a member of the Republican Party, which he helped to get established in Harris County in 1960. He also served the Republican Party in Washington County since 1977. His life was a life of service. He loved God, his wife and family, especially his grand and great-grandchildren, his many relatives and friends and his beloved country. He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 68 years, Lydia Weiss Platzer of Brenham; a brother, Harry Platzer, of The Woodlands; three grandsons and wives, Mark and Ann McGregor of Orlando, Florida, Brett Platzer of Houston, Texas and Jeffery and Sheri Platzer of Round Rock, Texas; eight great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Marci, William Abraham and Evan of Round Rock, Texas, Christopher, Cassandra and Pricilla Platzer of Austin, Texas, and Travis McGregor of Orlando, Florida; along with many loving nephews and nieces and a host of wonderful friends. Any gifts of loving memory for Raymond Platzer may be given to Faith Outreach Christian Center, P.O. Box 1418, Navasota, TX 77868 or for cancer research. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main St., in Brenham.