Floyd Robert Skinner

Floyd R. Skinner, having recently celebrated 90 great years of life, moved on to live eternally with Jesus on Monday, October 28, 2019. He was born in his home on October 01, 1929 in what is now the 5th Ward in Houston, Texas. As a very young teenager, he helped his father and older brother Howard build the house on Manitou that eventually became the family home to him and his 7 brothers and sisters. While his first paying job was as a sacker at the local Henke & Pillot grocery store, he eventually graduated from Jeff Davis High School in 1947. Soon he enlisted in the Navy during the Korean War, stationed in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations. While in the Navy he became both a Shellback and Mossback; eventually he was honorably discharged as a Fire Control Technician, E4.

While the rest of the men in his family became machinists, Floyd became an electrician. And during the infamous strike at Shell Oil, he left to sell Prudential insurance door-to-door for 2 years to support his family. Eventually, through the good recommendation of friend Don Anders, he got a job with Maxwell House Coffee on Navigation. He worked faultlessly for General Foods until retiring at 55 years old as a maintenance superintendent.

Floyd was lifelong member of the Assemblies of God church, serving as Deacon, Song Leader, Choir Member, and unwavering volunteer. He was also a 32nd Degree Mason and former member of the OCAW. Although he was a Journeyman Electrician, there was practically nothing he couldn’t do: arc and gas welding, HVAC, framing and finishing carpentry, machining, and auto mechanics.

Floyd is preceded in death by wife Betty Margaret Ellis Skinner, father and mother Hobson Dewey and Mary May Fake Skinner. Also greeting him in heaven are his brothers and sisters Howard, Mildred Rose, Anna May Hicks, and Melvin. He is survived by siblings James, Alice Epley, Henry, and his son Jerry Allan and wife Cerise Cezanne Yeargain. Then there is his faithful wife, companion, and partner in crime of 21 years Esther Tittsworth Smith Skinner. He also leaves his “new” sons and daughters: Richard and Judy Smith, J T and Christa Smith, Jan and Bob Robbins, John and Melissa Smith. With great pride he embraced his grandsons Kevin Skinner, Corbin Skinner and his fiancée Britney Tate. Having a brood of grand and great-grandchildren put light in his eyes: Les and Mandi, Angela and Brian, Josh, Jacob and Michael. The greats are Aden, Jared, Abby, Parker, Amber, Hudson and Alexa.

Pallbearers are Henry Skinner, Corbin Skinner, Richard Smith, JT Smith, Jacob Smith, and Aiden Rogers.

The family would like to extend it’s gratitude to Lakeisha and Dee, who so selflessly cared for him and Esther in his last days. We are grateful to the folks at Memorial Hermann Hospice, and Frankie Cruse who work some unexplainable magic behind the scenes.