Honorable Charles Robert Schulte

Retired State Appellate Court Judge Charles R. “Bob” Schulte, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend to many, passed away on August 2, 2014 at the age of 92. Born on November 11, 1921 in Saint Louis, Missouri, Judge Schulte was admired for his loving heart and was widely respected by the legal community for being an outstanding jurist. Bob married Alice L. N. Stovall on May 3, 1947 and they remained sweethearts to the very end of this life. Bob is survived by three children and their spouses, Dr. Perry Kay Brown and Paul, Charles Robert Schulte Jr. and Karina and Dr. Don Park Schulte and Sonia and many beautiful grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In addition to serving as a Justice on the Texas 8th Court of Appeals from 1981 until his retirement from the bench in 1988, he also presided as Judge of the 41st State District Court from 1966 to 1981 and was the Interim El Paso County Judge from 1962 to 1963. He received the George N. Rodriguez, Sr. Memorial Award for Outstanding Service from the El Paso Young Lawyers Association in 1983. Attorneys that practiced in his courts described Judge Schulte as fair minded, patient, and a man of great integrity with an excellent grasp of the law and legal procedures. He treated all people, regardless of their “rank” in life, with the utmost dignity and respect; he was truly a role model for goodness.

Judge Schulte received his B.A. Degree from Texas College of Mines and Metallurgy (now UTEP) in 1949 and his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1950 from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was honored as a Distinguished Military Graduate. He highly valued the importance of education and always encouraged his children and grandchildren to attend college to equip them for fulfilling and altruistic careers.

Judge Schulte was proud of his 33 combined years of military service to our country, much of which paralleled his legal career. He served on active duty during World War II in the United States Army Air Forces from 1944 to 1946 and during the Korean Conflict from 1952 to 1953. He continued his service in the Air Force Reserves until his military retirement in 1980. In recognition of his exemplary service, he received the Exceptional Service Award from the Air Force in 1980 and Meritorious Service Medal from President Jimmy Carter through the Secretary of the Air Force. In terms of community service, he served as Chairman of the March of Dimes campaign and was on the Board of Directors of R.E. Thomason General Hospital.

During his retirement, he filled his days with researching and writing family history, producing one bound volume a year, which he would give to his children at Christmas. Judge Schulte was awed by the wonder of nature and spent countless hours hiking at his vacation home in Alpine, Texas with his grandchildren, educating them about different species of plants, birds and animals that would roam through. At night, he loved to look up at the stars in amazement, giving full credit to God, our creator, for the wonder that surrounded us. During his final days in this life, as Pastor Monty and family gathered around his bedside, he said that he thanked God every night for his many blessings. “Well done, you good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your Lord.” Matthew 25:21

Visitation will be Monday, August 4th, 2014 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Funeraria Del Angel Martin East ,1460 George Dieter Drive. Funeral services will also be held at Funeraria Del Angel Martin East Tuesday, August 5th, 2014 at 12 noon. Internment will follow at Fort Bliss National Cemetery. Pallbearers will include Benjamin Schulte, Charles Robert Schulte III, John F. Kennedy Schulte, Anthony Huerta, Tito Silva and Pee Wee Peeples.