Frank Mell Varner Jr.

Frank Mell Varner, Jr., age 87, passed Tuesday, the 1st of March 2011, in San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Varner was born in Houston on the 20th of December 1923, and was a lifelong resident of Houston, with recent years' residence in Austin and San Antonio.

He was a graduate of Mirabeau B. Lamar High School, Class of 1941, Houston, Texas; attended New Mexico Military Institute, 1941-42; member of the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets, 1942-43; graduated University of Texas at Austin, Class of 1948, BS in Mechanical Engineering, with additional professional development classes at the University of Houston.

Mr. Varner was a World War II veteran who served in the 5th Division, 10th Infantry Regiment 1942-1945; he was awarded 2 Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart during his service. Mr. Varner participated in the campaign extending from Normandy through France, the Rhineland and former Czechoslovakia. He was a mechanical and petroleum engineer with Marathon Oil Company for over 30 years and an active member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Mr. Varner was a devoted member of the '41ers Club of Lamar High School and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. He was also a passionate woodworker, machinist, builder, antique collector, and photographer. Mr. Varner held a multitude of family roles in support of his children's activities.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Kane Varner and Frank Mell Varner, Sr., of Houston, Texas; and by his wife of 37 years, the late Mary Anne Varner, in 1996.

He is survived by daughter, Melissa Anne Varner of San Antonio, Texas; son, David James Varner and daughter-in-law, Marjorie Esther Varner of Arlington, Virginia; and grandchildren, Monica Anne Varner and Mark Stanford Varner of Arlington, Virginia.

Yesterday evening, friends gathered with the family during a visitation at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, in Houston.

A private interment service is to be held for the family on Saturday, the 5th of March, at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston.

The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, beneficial contributions be made to Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the San Antonio Museum of Art, or the McNay Art Museum (San Antonio) as an expression of Mr. Varner's interest in continuing education and love of the arts at these great institutions.