Robert S Scheurer

Mr. Scheurer was born July 1, 1921 to Leroy Robert Scheurer and Florence Smith Scheurer at the home of his maternal grandparents in Rolla, MO. He and his mother rejoined his father in Wichita Falls when he was three weeks old and he lived in Wichita Falls for the remainder of his life. He graduated from Wichita Falls High School in 1938 and from Hardin Junior College in 1940. He became a licensed pilot in March 1940. He joined the Army Air Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant in the summer of 1942 and served as an officer and pilot for four years. He served two separate overseas tours, the first in Africa, India and the Middle East during 1942, ’43 and ’44. During this period, he was stationed in Africa at Accra, British Gold Coast and later at Aden on the Arabian Peninsula and experienced the British Empire as it was then, as well as the war in that theater. Thereafter he served a second overseas tour in the European Theater in 1944 and ’45 flying out of Scotland, France and Italy as a pilot in the Air Transport Command. He was discharged in the summer of 1946 as a Captain and returned to his home in Wichita Falls.

He married Margaret Junipher Hagan in September 1944. That marriage ended in 1963. He married Dorothy Jane Parker in July 1965. She preceded him in death in 1999. He married Maxine Wagnon in December 1999. She preceded him in death in 2012. He was also preceded in death by his two sisters: Mary Scheurer Daniel, in 1946, and Betty Scheurer Lasseter, in 1978.

Upon his return from war service in June of 1946, he joined his father Leroy R. Scheurer as a partner in the Wichita Hardware Co., a long-established wholesale hardware distributor. In 1957, he founded Texas Water Crafters, later known as Texas Recreation Corp., a leading manufacturer of Marine and Swim Pool flotation products which were sold worldwide. He sold Texas Recreation in December 2002 after 45 years of operation and retired. During this time the company grew to employ more than 150 people at its two plants and occupied approximately 200,000 square feet of space at the home plant in Wichita Falls, and a second plant in Graham, Texas.

He was a pioneer in the development of U.S. Coast Guard Approved Personal Flotation Devices and held many U.S. patents covering products and designs in marine and swim pool flotation products. He was awarded the Small Businessman of the Year Award for North Texas in 1976 from the Small Business Administration and received the Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics from the Better Business Bureau in 1997. He served on the boards of the Industry Advisory Committee of the Yacht Safety Bureau, Underwriter’s Laboratories Marine Division, First Wichita National Bank, M Bank of Wichita Falls, Wichita Falls County Club, the Wichita Club and the Texas Association of Business and Chambers of Commerce. Mr. Scheurer was a lifetime member of the First Presbyterian Church. He was also a member of the MSU Presidents Excellence Club, Wichita County Heritage Society, the American Bonanza Society and the Silver Wings Society. He was an active pilot, both military and civilian for 53 years from 1939 to 1992 and logged a total of over 5,500 hours of flying time. He also enjoyed his many friends and house at Possum Kingdom Lake for more than 30 years and enjoyed playing golf with good friends for more than 50 years.

He is survived by his son Stephen Mark Scheurer and wife Lety of Austin, TX; his daughter Susan Amber Seaberg and her husband Dr. Robert Seaberg of Dayton, TX; his stepson Dan Luther Parker and his wife Retta of Houston, TX; his stepson Dr. William Thomas Parker of Dallas, TX; his stepdaughters Connie Ellison and Claudia Small of Oklahoma City; 7 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

The family wishes to extend its heartfelt love, gratitude and thanks to Mr. Scheurer’s long time secretary, business associate and dear friend, Joan Frederick.

Visitation will be held with the family at Hampton Vaughan Crestview on Friday, January 29th from 6 – 7 pm. His graveside service will be held on Saturday, January 30th at 1 pm at Riverside Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Wichita Falls, TX or to Hospice of Wichita Falls.