Ivan Ivar Ahuero

Ivan was born on October 16, 1928 in Minco, Oklahoma. His family moved to Houston, where he spent his school-age years and graduated from San Jacinto High School. Ivan attended Texas A&M University for a short time before enlisting in the US Navy. He proudly served his country aboard the USS Grouper-AGSS 214, a guppy class submarine. After serving in the navy, Ivan was employed by the Clark Sherwood Company, in Lafayette, LA as a Rig Builder. In the early 1960’s, he joined Republic Rubber Company (later Aeroquip) as a sales engineer. In 1967, Ivan opened and managed Corpus Christi Rubber & Specialty Company in Corpus Christi as a branch office for Houston Gasket & Packing Company. In 1992, Ivan, his son and a former business partner acquired Houston Gasket & Packing and all subsidiaries (later to become GHX, Inc.). Ivan became President of the company after the acquisition and was an inspirational leader for all of its employees for a number of years. Ivan retired at age 80.

Ivan was a member of the East Houston Masonic Lodge No. 1299. He and his beloved wife Pat were also avid animal lovers. They were well known around the country for breeding and showing Chinese Shar-Pei dogs until Pat’s passing in 2002.

Ivan is preceded in death by his loving wife of 52 years, Patricia Landrum Ahuero. He is survived by his two sons, Dan and Steve Ahuero, daughters-in-law Ann and Mindy Ahuero, grandson Dr. Jason Ahuero and wife Alice, granddaughter Dr. Audrey Ahuero, two great granddaughters Abby and Kathleen Ahuero, and his nieces Patti Martinka and Amy Crompton.

The family wishes to offer sincere thanks for the loving care that the staff of Holly Hall Retirement Community gave to Ivan over the four years he resided there. The family also wishes to offer special thanks to his long-time caregiver, Lydia Espinoza, for the devotion and love she displayed in caring for Ivan and his wife Pat for nearly 20 years.

A memorial service to celebrate Ivan’s life will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2016, 10:00 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church Houston, 5300 Main Street, the Reverend Bill Heston, Executive Pastor, officiating. To view Ivan’s obituary see chron.com/tributes. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those desiring to do so may send memorial gifts to Holly Hall Retirement Community, 2000 Holly Hall Street, Houston, TX 77054.