Theodore (Ted) Roosevelt Nehring, Jr. passed away around sunrise on Thursday, November 10, 2022, surrounded by his loving family at the blessed age of 86. Ted was born on September 25, 1936 in Waco, Texas to Theodore Roosevelt Nehring, Sr., and Hilda Gummelt Nehring. He is survived by his wife, Penny of 60 years; three children, Melanie White (A.T.) of Fort Worth, TX, Brad Nehring (Nicole) of Houston, TX, and Amber Willet of Houston, TX; nine grandchildren who love him dearly, Karsyn (Blake), Evan (Kristen), Colton, Ryan, Kaylin, Avery, Nolan, Alexa and Shawn; his youngest brother, Aubrey Nehring of Philpot, KY; sister-in-law, Rita Nehring of Waco, TX, along with several cousins, nieces, and nephews.. Ted is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Shirley McKee; her husband, Laney; and his brother Layton Nehring.
Ted grew up in Rosenthal, Texas on his parents farm/ranch known as Texas View Farm Berkshire where they raised show cattle and pigs. They also operated a successful Chicken Ranch selling to the well-known, local Waco chicken shack, Leslie’s Chicken. Ted was a competitive athlete at Waco High School and attended Trinity University in San Antonio, TX on a football scholarship with the help of his good friend Bob Pettigrew. After graduating college with a degree in Business, he joined the US Army and was a 1st Lieutenant, Military Tank Commander stationed in Baumholder, Germany where he met his wife, Penny, who was also stationed there with her family. They were married in Baumholder and returned to Waco, TX in 1962.
Ted began his 33 year career with Kraft Foods in 1963 retiring in 1996 as an Account Manager. In 1990 he was recognized for his exceptional work as Account Manager in the Dallas/Fort Worth region and was awarded the President’s Club membership in New York City at a company wide recognition ceremony. Ted was an ordained deacon, and both he and his wife, Penny, were very active members at Riverside Baptist Church and North Richland Hills Baptist Church where they served in many capacities together working with the youth, young adults, singles, newly married couples and discipleship classes. Ted was well-known for his warm, fun and generous heart for people and loved to fellowship. He and Penny opened their home often to their friends and sunday school groups for fellowships and game nights including their favorite fellowship - volleyball games in the backyard. (I John 1:6-7 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.)
A good friend of Ted’s wrote in a letter to his children in 2009 “he..is the ideal of what a husband, father, and godly man is…” Ted lived his life dedicated to his wife, children, grandchildren, and family. He loved spending time with them including annual summer vacations in Port Aransas, Texas. He grew up going there with his family as a young boy and carried on this tradition annually with his own family and close friends. His love for fishing was evident by the many hours he would spend on the rock jetties starting well before dawn fishing until the heat of the day. He passed on his passion for fishing to his grandchildren spending countless, patient hours teaching them all about fishing. He also loved to garden. It was a great pasttime that he has passed onto to his children by sharing his knowledge, experiences, new tricks and special tomato choices for the year.
A celebration of Ted’s life will be held in the Chapel of Houston’s First Baptist Church in Houston, Texas on Friday, November 18, 2022 at 11:30 am. There will be a viewing prior to the service at 10:30 am. Pall Bearers are his grandsons Evan Nehring, Colton Willet, Ryan Nehring, Avery White, Nolan Nehring, Shawn Nehring and Blake Alderink. Houston’s First Baptist Church is located at 7401 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77024.
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