Hubert Eugene Tindel, 93, of Athens, Texas passed away January 26, 2014.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, January 29 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at the Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home in Athens. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 30, in Athens, Texas, at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Nick Sholars and Rev. Becky Love officiating followed by a private burial service.
Mr. Tindel was born June 27, 1920, in Larue, to Maggie Buie and Paschal Eugene Tindel. He graduated from La Poynor High School in 1939 as student body President. After graduation, he moved to California and worked for the Consolidated Aircraft Company as a machinist before moving into management.
He joined the Army Air Corps in 1941 and entered flight training. He earned his pilot’s wings as a B-25 First Pilot for overseas combat in Japan. He was an honor graduate and Colonel of his Cadet class. During this time he attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio.
After leaving the service in 1946 as a First Lieutenant, Mr. Tindel was hired by Consolidated Aircraft / General Dynamics as a Supervisor at the Fort Worth plant. He attended Texas Christian University (TCU) from 1946 to 1948, during which time he met and married Louise Durham.
He left General Dynamics in 1952 and went to work for Bell Helicopter. He started there as a Superintendent and retired in 1981 as Director of Manufacturing.
After retiring from Bell, he and Louise returned to Athens for their retirement years. During this time he continued to pursue his lifelong passion of cattle ranching, and he and Louise traveled extensively.
During his retirement years he served as President of the Virginia Hill Water Supply for 30 years, from 1982 to 2012. He also served as Director for District 13 of the Texas Rural Water Association (TRWA) from 1990 to 2008. The TRWA recognized Mr. Tindel for his sharp financial mind, keen business sense, and dedication to the association. He was also instrumental in the acquisition of TRWA’s Austin headquarters.
Mr. Tindel was a long time member of the First United Methodist Church of Athens and served in numerous responsible positions. He was a member of the Builders Sunday School Class. Mr. Tindel was a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and received recognition in 2011 for 65 years as a Master Mason.
He and Louise were married for 65 wonderful years. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather.
Mr. Tindel was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Henry Milton Tindel, and his sister, Mildred Blake.
He is survived by his wife, Louise Durham Tindel, his three children, Brenda Tindel and husband Joe Algermissen, Sherry Tindel and husband John Calhoun, Mark Tindel and wife Jaimi Tindel, grandchildren, Randi Lemongello and husband John, Christina Tindel, and Kevin Tindel, great-grandchild Elizabeth Lemongello, sister, Virginia Nadine Fisher; several cousins, and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund or Builders Sunday School Class, 225 Lovers Lane, (P.O. Box 911) Athens, TX 75751, or to any charity of choice. Hubert Tindel will be missed by so many who knew and loved him.