Edwin Bleier

Edwin Francis Bleier, age 78, of Houston, TX died on November 10, 2018, in a local care facility. He was born and raised in Texarkana, Arkansas to Joseph Francis Bleier and Ethel Adams-Bleier. He excelled in sports, earning a football scholarship to the University of Houston. During that time, he met and married the love of his life, Cecilia Diane Morris. The union produced three sons; Joseph Tracy (Julia), Robert Edwin (Laura), and Michael Kevin (Debra). He graduated from UH with bachelor's degree in business, stayed in Houston, and began a lifelong career as a sales agent for Allstate Insurance, winning several sales awards. He and Diane met two of their best friends during that tenure, Dick and Joanne Shine. Together, they and their children traveled the country with the recreational vehicle crowd. They enjoyed camping, fishing, watersports and learning about Texas and the United States. He also hobbied with radio control planes, pen and ink drawing, and woodcarving. Ed also successfully navigated his children through life, each one earning collegiate degrees, becoming married and starting their own families. He coached and managed them through little league sports and was an enthusiastic supporter as they continued through their teens. He saw his son Joe through medical school, Rob into Information Technology and Kevin through UH on a football scholarship and into the insurance business. His love for his wife, Diane, remains unsurpassed. She preceded him in death four years ago, ending a marriage of 52 years. He nursed and cared for her as she suffered dementia. When she took residence in Memory Care, he continued this vigil daily. He followed her with his own cognitive decline, ultimately succumbing to the ravages of dementia as well. He will be interred together with his Diane. He is also preceded in death by his son Rob, and his brother Jay Young. He is survived by his sisters Christine Phillips and Jane Pappas, sons Joseph and Kevin, and grandchildren Rachel Katherine, Austin Robert, Jonathon David, Brian Joseph, Amanda Rose, and Matthew Douglas. A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 7, 2018, at St. James Church with inurnment to follow at Memorial Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Autumn Leaves of Rockwall, memo: Patient Activities Fund 225 East Ralph Fall Parkway, Rockwall, TX 75032 or St. James Church Memorial Fund, 417 Olive Street, Texarkana, TX 75503 Arrangements are under the care of Texarkana Funeral Home, Texas. Online registration is at www.texarkanafuneralhome.com