Eva Ceipek Naumow

Eva von Ceipek Naumow was born to Leopold von Ceipek and Ida Fabiani von Ceipek in Innsbruck Austria. Barely five years old, she began to draw almost instinctively, using only pencil and paper. She drew many items found around the home but soon attempted to create “pictures”. Her enthusiasm was great, disregarding any limits which could have hampered this early development. One of her close relatives, herself fresh out of art school, was the first to guide her professionally.

Shortly after the end of World War II and still in her teenage years, Eva was one of the artists who had been invited to exhibit their works at the newly established French-Austrian Culture Center in town. Sculpting in clay as well as painting and designing for a Majolica Factory rounded out these early years.

In May of 1951, by then married for half a year, Eva agreed with her husband to build their future away from Europe. Twelve and one half years of life in Venezuela followed, but, having to decide for the future of their four children, another important step was taken. One week before Christmas 1963 the family arrived in Houston, Texas planning to settle there for good. Five years later, in May of 1969, they had all become American citizens.

While life in Venezuela had not stopped Eva’s artistic endeavors, any available time was mostly used to learn and develop further. She completed several privately commissioned works, and the daily newspaper of Maracaibo printed one extensive article about her art, including photographs of some of her paintings.

In Texas, however, she did not want to pass on a given chance and enrolled in the home study course in Fine Arts Painting of the Famous Artists School in Westport, Connecticut. She finished the three year course with dedication, receiving her accreditation in August 1967. Soon several new private commission works were finished and in 1971, Arts International, the “Gallery of Discoveries” at the Galleria I in Houston began accepting and selling her paintings.

Eva had always enjoyed keeping a lovely family home, doing her gardening and being active at their church, especially singing in the choir. The family had been able to get to know the States quite well, taking trips by car to and along the Pacific coast, through all of the South and Midwest, plus camping in Yosemite Park and in Colorado.

After the death of her husband in 1995, with her children grown, married and gone from home, Eva had purposely simplified her life, which allowed for more free time to accomplish the works and projects she felt best qualified to do.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Leopold and Ida von Ceipek; husband Alex Naumow; brothers, Ekkehard Ceipek, Haimo Ceipek, Roland Ceipek and grandson Christopher Naumow.

She is survived by her two sisters Erika Ceipek Grant and Helga Ceipek Annichini; daughter Tamara Grier and husband Terry, son Geert Naumow and wife Kathie, daughter Elke Koch and son Martin Naumow; grandchildren Kevin Grier, Kaitlin Naumow, Danielle Koch Smith, Nicole Koch, Jeff Naumow and Stephanie Naumow Clark.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm on Saturday May 19, 2018 at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church located at 2400 Wilcrest Dr., Houston, TX 77042.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Christ the Servant Lutheran Church www.christtheservant.net or the Alzheimer’s Association www.alztex.org.