Clyde Edward Bohmfalk

Dr. Clyde Edward Bohmfalk, age 74, a resident of both Austin and Hondo, Texas, passed away on December 9, 2012, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on September 4, 1938, in Hondo to Frederick W. and Nettie Brucks Bohmfalk.

Clyde grew up in Hondo, attending the Hondo Public Schools, and graduated from Hondo High School in 1957. After high school, he attended Southwest Texas State College, Sul Ross State College, and The University of Texas at Austin, where he completed his B.A. in Biology (1961), M.A. in Botany (1969), and Ph.D. in Plant Ecology (1971).

He was a high school biology teacher in Midland (Midland H.S. and Robert E. Lee H.S., ‘61-‘64), in Austin (Austin, Reagan, and Crockett high schools, ’64-’72), and taught at UT-Austin (’71-’72) as an instructor of plant ecology. In 1972, he joined the Texas Water Quality Board as a biologist/hydrologist. He served the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and its predecessor agencies in several capacities from 1972 until his retirement in August of 2012, including Director of Water Quality Planning. During his tenure, he was also the Texas representative to the Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators (ASIWPCA), worked closely with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and was the liaison between TCEQ and the State Soil Conservation Service.

Clyde married Joylene Tilley, also of Hondo, in 1959, and they were married for 53 happy years. His greatest pleasures were barbecuing for his family, woodworking and creating handmade wooden gifts, and hosting get-togethers of family and friends at their ranch. He was happiest as an enthusiastic supporter of his grandchildren’s numerous extracurricular activities. He loved listening and dancing to Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, and music of the Fifties. He also loved the Texas Longhorns and the Hondo Owls, and was a proud member of their 1956 state finalist football team.

Clyde is survived by his wife Joylene; his children and their spouses, Shannon and Jim McLaughlin of Cedar Park; Reagan and Chico Portillo of Austin, and Michael and Regina Bohmfalk of Round Rock; his grandchildren Sean and Catie McLaughlin, Daniel and Breanna Portillo, and Patrick, Ian, and Ashlynn Bohmfalk; his sister Dorothy Duncan of Lampasas; brother and sister-in-law, Wilbur and Nelma Bohmfalk of Hondo; and brothers- and sisters-in-law and spouses, Ron and Gaye Tilley Wunsch of Muldoon; Noel Kern Tilley of New Braunfels, Fred and Kevin Tilley Bader of Hondo; Tobin and Jeanette Aelvoet Tilley of Kerrville; and Ray Don and Diane Dush Tilley of Austin; and numerous nieces and nephews, who knew him as their Uncle Clydie and grandfather figure, who enriched the lives of his extended familiy and friends. His calm and compassionate nature served as an example to others and was the strength and solid foundation for his family.

A Funeral service will be held at New Fountain United Methodist Church on Wednesday, the 12th of December, at 12:00 p.m. A visitation will be held at the church prior to the service from 10:00-12:00 p.m. Burial will follow at the Hondo Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to a charity of your choice.

Condolences may be sent to www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com