Lew Wayne Harpold

Lew Wayne Harpold, 77, passed suddenly and entered into rest with our Lord Jesus Christ on the 25th of September 2010 at his home in Houston. Lew was born on the 26th of September 1932 to Mabel C. and Roy Harpold and was a lifelong Houston resident.

Lew graduated from Lamar High School and received his BS from Rice University in 1956. While at Rice Lew played on the football team, and was a member of the 1954 team that defeated Alabama in the Cotton Bowl championship game. After college Lew worked as a draftsman for Tennessee Gas, and it was there that he was introduced to Dolores Sanchez, the love of his life. They were married in 1958. Lew attended South Texas College of Law and was admitted to the state bar in 1959. He was one of the founding attorneys of Hofheinz, James & Harpold in 1962. Lew practiced law at this firm and its successors until 1990. In that year he joined Looper Reed & McGraw, where he was a partner, practicing in the areas of Real Estate and Commercial Transactions up until the time of his passing. One of Lew’s most important clients during his many years of practicing law was Randall’s Food Markets. He was a Director and General Counsel of Randall’s for 25 years.

The life that Lew and Dolores built together was one filled with family, friends and a very deep and abiding love for Jesus Christ. Lew was an enthusiastic sportsman and outdoorsman and passed that love on to their three sons. Weekends and many joyful holidays centered around “the farm,” Pin Oak Creek Ranch, in Cat Spring, Texas. Over the last fifty years, Lew and Dolores and their boys enjoyed ranching, long horseback rides, dances at the dance hall, and the company of many close friends. More recently, family traditions included dinner at the Crossroads fish fry on Friday nights. Lew and Dolores are well-known for their hospitality.

Lew was a voracious reader and scholar of history, particularly Texas history. He had a gift for sharing his vast knowledge of history with others. He was a prolific writer on many different topics, including history, religion and marriage. Lew was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Texas State Historical Association.

During their 52 years of marriage, Lew and Dolores shared a passion for antiquing, a love of travel, and a love for spending time together in the country. They also shared a devotion to the Bible and the Word of God. For many years they have been active members of Second Baptist Church. Their beautiful marriage is a testament to the sanctity of that union he wrote of in his essay entitled, “What’s Forever For.”

Lew was an extraordinary man, known for his modesty and humility and his high moral and ethical standards, and was immensely respected by his peers, friends and family.

Lew was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Dorothy Porter; and by his brother, Roy Harpold. He deeply loved his close family and is survived by his wife, Dolores; and their children: Wayne and wife Gloria, Grant and wife Karen, and Stephen and wife Jill. He also leaves ten grandchildren: Skip, Joel, Jasmin, and Jacob Harpold; Catherine, Hannah and Lauren Harpold; and Blake, Christina and Susanna Harpold.

The funeral service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Wednesday, the 29th of September, in the Sanctuary of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive in Houston, where Rev. John C. Barksdale, Executive Director of Pastoral Ministry, is to serve as the lead officiant.

Immediately following the service, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the Deacons’ Parlor.

The interment and graveside service is to follow at three o’clock in the afternoon, or shortly thereafter, at the Kollatschny Cemetery in Cat Spring, northwest of Sealy in Austin County.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in Lew’s memory may be directed to the Texas State Historical Association, 1155 Union Circle # 311580, Denton, TX, 76203-5017; or to the charity of one’s choice.