Eric Panter

Funeral services for Eric will be held Friday, September 2, 2022. Viewing is from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm, with the celebration of life starting at 1:00 pm. Both will be held at Bear Creek Bible Church, 1555 North Tarrant Parkway, Keller, Texas. Entombment at Bluebonnet Cemetery following the service, with a reception at the church afterwards.

How do you describe a shining star? Eric Panter, 36, of Austin, Texas, beloved son, grandson, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away tragically and unexpectedly on August 16 while traveling in Greece. There are no words to describe the light and joy Eric brought to this life. Eric was born in Fort Worth, and attended Haltom High School and the University of Texas at Austin. He was active in theater in high school, and sang in every choir he could in high school, college, and beyond, all while graduating in the top 10% of his high school class. He loved Longhorn football, whether they won or lost. There is no conversation about Eric without talking about music and no way to truly explain how passionate he was about music. He had a big, booming baritone voice like an angel, and sang anywhere and everywhere he could. He was a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas, where he sang in the choir and was beloved by all. The church became another family for him, and he loved them all. Eric had a heart for service, including serving the homeless, and he did that eagerly and diligently through his church. He spent a year in the Philippines working with a mission organization through his church. He was a proud member of the IOU Barbeque team and IOU Foundation, where he pursued two of his other passions – cooking and eating meat! His IOU brothers were another Austin family to him and he loved them all dearly. Yet all of these facts can’t begin to describe the man that Eric was. He had a big booming voice, a big laugh, big arms that would wrap you up in a big bear hug when he saw you, and a big personality that filled the room. He had a heart as big as Texas and helped anyone in need, whether he knew them or not. As big as he was, he loved the small and defenseless: his sweet puppy Sunshine and his precious goddaughter Ruby were lights of his life. Friends have described him as funny, kind, caring, sweet, loyal, genuine, hard-working, open, and compassionate, among so many others. He had an amazing intellect, could remember anything he read or heard and articulate it well, had a quick wit, and a wonderful sense of humor. He loved to cook and eagerly tried lots of new recipes that he shared with his family and friends. We took many family hiking trips and he loved nature and being out in God’s creation. He loved to travel, and was living his dream of being able to travel and work from anywhere in the world. Eric loved life and lived large. The world lost a shining star that burned out too soon. But he will forever burn bright in our hearts and in the lives of those he touched. Rest in peace my son. We will miss you forever.

Eric is survived by his parents, John and Marjorie Panter of Fort Worth, Texas; brother Nick, wife Miranda, nieces Amber, Janelle, and Sydney of Atlanta, Georgia; sister Staci of Hutchins, Texas; and sister April of Tulsa, Oklahoma; his Nana, Norma Boggs, of Haltom City, Texas; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins; and friends too numerous to count. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Delores and Paul Panter; his uncle, Harold Panter; cousin, Megan Panter; and his granddad, Doyle Boggs. Eric truly lived. May we all follow his example and touch others with our love and our lives.

Donations may be made in Eric’s name to Austin Pets Alive; St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas; or the IOU Foundation in Austin, Texas.