Ursula Hedwig Heesche Brinkerhoff

The first flowers of spring greeted the arrival of Ursula Hedwig Heesche Brinkerhoff on March 30, 1922 in Hamburg, Germany. The flowers bowed their heads at her passing on January 6, 2012 in her home. When she was two years old her mother boarded a ship for Galveston, with Ursula and her brother in tow, to meet their father who was already in Texas. She has been a Texas resident ever since, dividing her time between Houston and New Braunfels.

Ursula embraced many passions during her lifetime. Her early years were devoted to career and world travel. In her later years, her adored standard poodles accompanied her when she ventured daily into her gardens. She loved talking knowledgeably about the different variety of plants, but was especially fond of orchids. She also was a regular artist at classes offered by the Glassell School of Art at The Museum of Fine Arts Houston. She took pride in her artistic accomplishments and often promoted the artwork of her numerous friends as evident by her extensive collection. In addition, she was a patron of the Houston Grand Opera in which she enjoyed numerous performances over the years.

Ursula spent most of her career in the Houston oil industry as a geologist focusing on the exploration for hydrocarbons after graduating from the University of Houston. Her most recent endeavor was the establishment of an olive orchard in Granger, Texas, the second orchard of its kind in Central Texas. Her enthusiasm and pioneering spirit was a natural extension from crude oil to olive oil.

Ursula is preceded in death by her husband Ira A. Brinkerhoff, her parents, Johannes & Anna (Fettback) Heesche, and her brother, W. H. Heesche. She is survived by a cousin, Iris Poetzsch of Germany. In addition, she is survived by step-daughter, Keith A. Callaway and her daughter, Coe, and step-daughter Jan Brinkerhoff Scofield and husband, Barney, and their children, Christopher, Robert, and Emilia. She will be remembered by her many friends.

A Celebration of Life reception will be held at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home Monday, January 16, 2012, 12:30 – 2:30pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Glassell School of Art, P.O. Box 6826, Houston, Texas 77265, attention: Jennifer Cronin, in memory of Ursula Brinkerhoff.