Walter E. Herbst

Walter E. Herbst, 87, passed away on Monday, September 5, 2017. He was born in Comfort, Texas on February 2, 1930 to the late Robert Carl and Clara Agnes Potschernick Herbst. He was raised in Comfort along with his siblings and attended the Comfort Independent School District.

Walter attended the University of Texas in Austin, receiving his BS and MA in Physics; Rice University in Houston; University of Houston for Pre-Med; University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, receiving his MD in 1963. He also attended UTMB John Sealy Hospital for his Internship from 1963-67 and his Residency in Radiology from 1964-67. At the University of Texas, Walter was a member of the Longhorn Band and was elected to Kappa Kappa Psi, the band fraternity and elected to Sigma Pi Sigma, the Physics Honor Society and was a member of Phi Chi medical fraternity.

Walter proudly served in the military. He was commissioned Ensign, USNR, upon completion of NROTC at UT Austin in 1952 and served active duty for 2 years aboard the USS Curtis AV-4 in San Diego, California. He participated in 2 tours to the Western Pacific atomic testing area.

Dr. Herbst taught school in Dickinson, Texas for a year; was a Research Associate at UTMB Galveston, a Radiologist at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin from 1967 to 1968. From 1968 to 1994 was a Radiologist in Victoria and the surrounding hospitals and clinics. Walter was a diplomat of the American Board of Radiology (DABR), and member of the American College of Radiology, Victoria Goliad Jackson Counties Medical Society, Texas Medical Association and the American Medical Association.

Walter loved the outdoors and was an avid bird-watcher for many years. He had a lifelong interest in music and as a child he played piano in the “family orchestra”. In school he took piano lessons and played the cornet and trombone in the school bands. In college he played trombone in the Longhorn Band. In Victoria he sang with the Civic Chorus, Bach Festival Chorus, St. Francis Church Choir, First United Methodist Church Choir, and played with the hand bell choir. Walter supported charities and served on several boards including Victoria Boys Club, Victoria Bach Festival and Victoria Christian Assistance Ministry (VCAM). He was a volunteer worker for the American Red Cross after hurricane Katrina, also at VCAM and Christ’s Kitchen and participated in three volunteer mission trips (Volunteers in Mission) to South Africa and one trip to Russia. Walter was a member of St. Francis Episcopal Church prior to the death of his wife, Frances. He served on multiple committees and on the Vestry. After marriage to Ann Huddleston, he joined the First United Methodist Church where he became very active in committees, choirs, youth programs and volunteer programs.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Dr. Frances Rugeley Herbst; daughter, Karen Lenore Herbst; sister, Roberta Clarice Orta and her husband, Faustino; and brother, Albert Otto Herbst.

He is survived by his wife, Ann Vallery Herbst; children, Thomas (Thom) Herbst, Frank Lewis Herbst, Marc Monroe Huddleston and Vallery Ann Daugherty; brother, Gerald Robert (Dorothy) Herbst; grandchildren, Micah Whitlock and Barak Whitlock, both of Temple Texas, Justus Burnette of Germany, Sarah Alaine Rudolph of Yoakum, Texas, Zachary Walter Herbst, Christopher DeVos, Matthew Stewart, Elizabeth Parker, Caitlin Glover, Trinity Jade Huddleston, Tabitha Vallery Daugherty, Cleo Daugherty, Tiberius Daugherty and Isabella Daugherty, all of Victoria, Texas; and great granchildren, Carmen, Ailey, Rylee Jade and Krimson, all of Victoria, Texas.

Family and friends will gather for a visitation from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Friday, September 8, 2017 at Colonial Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 9, 2017 at First United Methodist Church, Pastor Tim Brewer officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Military Honors of Flag presentation and Taps are under the auspices of the Victoria County Veterans Council.

Pallbearers are Micha Whitlock, Barak Whitlock, Christopher DeVos, Matthew Stewart, Derrick Parker and Kyle Glover. Honorary Pallbearers are Clifford Carter, Albert Haisler, Hugh Hanes, Paul Primm, Jean Wood and Robert Tripson.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com