Robert Karl Ganter Jr.

Robert Karl Ganter, Jr., was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylania on August 11, 1928. He died peacefully Saturday afternoon at Medical Center Hospital.

Robert graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1946 and promptly joined the United States Marine Corps. After serving one and a half years, he was honorably discharged and enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh as a petroleum engineering student. He married Mary Ann Brecht on June 10, 1950. Later that year, he was recalled into the Marine Corps and was stationed at Camp Legeune, North Carolina. In late 1951, he was discharged and returned to the University of Pittsburgh, finishing his Petroleum Engineering Degree in 1954. Robert was selected by his faculty and fellow students as the outstanding graduate of his class. Phillips Petroleum Corporation hired Robert and he moved his young family to Odessa, Texas. He embraced Texas and thought Odessa was the greatest place to call home. After 4 years with Phillips, Robert moved on to Texas Gulf Producing Company, a much smaller, independent company. He was the head reservoir engineer developing the Headlee Devonian unit. This is a vast reservoir underlying much of eastern Odessa. In 1964, when Texas Gulf sold out, he went out on his own and started a company that grew into RKG Engineering, Inc. He retired in 1998.

Robert was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61 years, Mary Ann, his parents, Robert K. Ganter Sr. and Hazel Hoffner Ganter, his sister, Gloria Jean Ganter Guckert, and sister-in-law Doris Brecht.

His survivors include his three children, Barbara Ann Ganter Wagnon & husband Mark of Lubbock, Debra Sue Ganter, M.D of Denver, Colorado and Gary Robert Ganter & wife Shari of Odessa, Robert had six grandchildren who adored him, James Matthew Wagnon of Lubbock, Joseph Michael Wagnon of Austin, Robert Karl Ganter III, Jackson Aaron Ganter, Kristofer Owen Ganter & Kathryn Noel Ganter all of Odessa. Robert is also survived by two brothers-in-law, Elmer B. Guckert and Robert G.Brecht, both of Pittsburgh, PA. He was very close to his nieces and nephews, Kathryn Allison of Hickory, North Carolina, Karen Morris, James Guckert, Sarah Rizzitoni and Carolyn Yonkers, all of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania will all miss their Uncle Bob.

Robert loved golf, woodworking, fishing, spending time with his grandchildren and the oil business. He will be missed by all.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 4, 2013 at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church with Monsignor James Bridges conducting the service. Memorials may be directed to the Humane Society of Odessa or the charity of your choice.

Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.