Merle R. Crockard

MERLE RUBLE CROCKARD died November 28, 2010, one day before his 94th birthday. He was born November 29, 1916 in Douglas, North Dakota. He later moved with his family to Texas and settled in Houston where he graduated from Reagan High School in 1934.

Merle enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1941 prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor.

His service included a tour of duty in the Aleutian Islands beginning in 1942 where he received a Battlefield Commission. Later, he completed Officer Candidate School and was deployed to the Philippines where he served as Finance Officer until the end of World War II. He was transferred to Nagoya, Japan where he oversaw the financial requirements of the occupying forces until his honorable discharge in January, 1946.

Merle was a long time employee of Bank of the Southwest where he became Senior Vice President and Manager of the International Banking Department. He was an active member of the Banker’s Association for Foreign Trade where he rose to the position of President. He traveled extensively on business and with the BAFT, his wife accompanying him on many occasions. He served on the Advisory Board of the Export-Import Bank, Washington, D.C., and appeared on various occasions before both the House and Senate Banking Committees regarding international legislation. He was an active member of Lakeside Country Club where he served as President 1975-76. He and his wife are members of Chapelwood United Methodist Church.

Following his retirement in 1980, Merle pursued his golf game and, most importantly, became a “grandfather extraordinaire,” organizing family trips and skits, mapping out his daughter’s trips to the Middle East, attending soccer and t-ball games, and throwing tennis balls over the house to see who could find them on the other side.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Bernice Crockard, whom he married on August 7, 1942. He is also survived by son, David Crockard of Houston, son, Doug Crockard and wife, Cutler, of Houston, daughter, Carol Madeley and husband, Mark, of Bellville, grandson Bradford Crockard and wife, Sarah, of Houston, granddaughters, Callie Musselman and husband, J.B., of San Antonio, Minta Madeley of the U.S. Embassy, Sana’a, Yemen, Michelle Madeley of Washington, D.C., Bonnie Madeley of Dallas, and great- grandson, Sunny Musselman.

The family will hold a private celebration of Merle’s life. In lieu of flowers they gratefully suggest a donation to the charity of your choice.