George A. Havran

George Anton Havran, 102, died on January 24, 2026. He was born in Ganado, Texas, on December 29, 1923, to Anton and Annie Havran, the eldest of eight children. He attended schools in Fayetteville, Columbus, and Ganado, Texas.

George was a WWII Army Air Corps veteran. He served with the Air University’s School of Aviation Medicine at Randolph Field, Texas, from 1943 to 1946, where he worked on high altitude research projects. He also served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves before and during the Korean War at Ellington Field as a Navigation Radar Specialist, training navigators to use radar.

The GI Bill enabled George to attend the University of Houston. He earned degrees in 1949, 1951, and 1960, majoring in Math, Physics, and Electronic Engineering.

George began working for Schlumberger in 1950 in the Electrical Engineering Department. After retiring in 1986, he continued working for several years as a consultant on the Measurements While Drilling (WMD) project and passed his expertise to the next generation.

George met his future wife, Laverne Faulkner, in 1950 at the campus bus stop while both were students at the University of Houston. They were married on August 22, 1953, at Berachah Church. They had three daughters: Wendy, Lisa, and Laurie. Every summer, George and Laverne would take the family on camping trips, visiting numerous national and state parks.

George enjoyed many activities and hobbies in retirement, such as traveling in the U.S. and abroad, attending several organizations’ meetings and luncheons, reading the daily newspaper cover to cover, bookbinding, and attending airshows. He accumulated a WWII aviation library and a theological library. He also enjoyed listening to music - ranging from Big Band to classical to opera - and studying the Bible.

George’s life was led by his faith and love for Jesus Christ. He was a member of Pine Valley Bible Church.

George was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 59 years, Myra Laverne Havran; his oldest daughter, Wendy Havran; his sister, Mildred Durbin; and five brothers: Laddie, Jerry, Robert, Charles, and Clinton.

He is survived by two daughters, Lisa (John) McKissick and Laurie (Mark) Nelson, and five grandchildren: Mara Nelson, Alisa Nelson, Matthew McKissick, Philip Nelson, and Galina McKissick. He is also survived by his youngest brother, Albert Havran, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home, located at 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077, on February 13, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. The burial service will immediately follow at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery. All are invited to a reception in the Forest Park Event Room.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Camp Peniel, Inc., 397 Peniel Path, Marble Falls, TX 78654.