Frank Leonard Theall

Frank Leonard Theall, a father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend, went home to his eternal Father on Monday, October 16, 2023. He was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana on June 28, 1930, to parents George and Bessie Theall. Along with his family, he moved to Houston at a young age and grew up on the “north side” where he attended Holy Name Elementary School. He graduated from St. Thomas High School in 1947 and was a member of the original class of the University of St. Thomas in the fall of that year. He dropped out of the university after one semester, however, feeling he was “unprepared for the collegiate experience,” and took an entry-level position with Humble Oil and Refining Company (now ExxonMobil). Looking toward the future, he took several engineering drawing courses at the University of Houston at night to prepare for a career in drafting. He joined the army in February 1951 and served his country for two years during the Korean Conflict, remaining at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, where he was the draftsman for the 307th Military Police Battalion. During that time, he made numerous trips back home to Houston and on August 4, 1951, he married Rose Marie Boenisch. Upon his discharge from the army in early 1953, their adventure as a couple progressed through eight years of night school at the University of Houston, where Frank graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology in 1961. (Their only son, Dwight, remembers attending his father’s graduation!)

Within months of his graduation, Frank was transferred to New Orleans and his career advanced rapidly. He was soon recognized as an expert in exploiting many of the more structural and stratigraphically complex oil and gas fields of South Louisiana and Southeast Texas. In 1976, he returned to Houston (Baytown, Greenspoint, and Kingwood offices) and retired from Exxon as a Senior Geological Advisor on December 31, 1991. Frank always said that without Rose Marie by his side, he could never have achieved his professional and technical career goals.

After his retirement, Frank and Rose Marie moved to Salida, Colorado. There, they were able to enjoy the cooler weather and take in the views of the mountains (the majestic “fourteeners” of the Collegiate Peaks). Frank, now in his 60s, even learned to snow ski, and in winter would be on the slopes at nearby Monarch several times a week! They had always loved entertaining, and during the seven years they lived in Colorado they continued to welcome family and friends to their home. Although they loved the mountains, they realized they were not getting any younger, and they decided to return to the Houston area in the Spring of 2002 to be closer to family - and to medical care. Their home in Katy was again a place of warm welcome, though Frank had to provide that welcome by himself after the death of Rose Marie in January, 2012. In December, 2022, Frank courageously decided that St. Dominic Village should be his new home. We are so thankful for the compassion and care given to him by the St. Dominic staff over the last few months of his earthly life.

Frank was preceded in death by his wife Rose Marie, his parents George and Bessie Theall, father and mother-in-law Henry and Rose Boenisch, brother George Theall and his wife Dorothy, and brother Roy Theall and his wife Virginia. He is survived by his son Dwight Theall and his wife Sue; grandchildren Amy Theall; Adam Theall and his wife Ann; Thomas Theall and his wife Hayley; great granddaughters Abigail, Emma, and Catherine (daughters of Adam and Ann); Ellis and Quinn (daughters of Tom and Hayley); sister Virginia Berreth; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11:00am at Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church in Katy Texas. Burial will follow at Forest Park Westheimer, followed immediately by a reception at that same location.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Dominic Village (stdominicvillage.org).