Obituary of Paul Clemens Berner, Sr.

Paul Clemens Berner, Sr., of La Porte, Texas, passed away Tuesday, March 26, 2019.  He was born in in Buffalo, New York on September 22, 1928 to Priscilla Arbuckle Berner and Paul Nau Berner.  Paul is preceded in death by his wife, Sally Baldwin Berner; sons, Robert Steven Berner and William Michael Berner; and brother, Robert Arbuckle Berner.  Left to cherish his memory are his son, Paul Clemens Berner, Jr. and wife, Deborah Ann Berner of Houston; daughter-in-law, Sheila Berner of Ramona, California; grandchildren, Sarah and David Nelson from Huntington Station, New York; Paul Clemens Berner, III and wife Mary Jenna of La Porte, Texas; Jennifer and Adam Kibler, Houston, Texas; and Melissa and Erick Iams of San Marcos, California; great grandchildren, Anne Shirley and William James Nelson of Huntington Station, New York; Ryland Chase and Brady Michael Kibler of Houston, Texas.

Paul graduated from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania with a degree in Bachelor of Science and went on to earn a Master of Science in Petroleum Geology from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.  In 1948, he married Sally Ann Baldwin from Youngstown, Ohio.  His career took them to thirteen cities in ten years across the United States before settling in Houston, Texas. 

A retired Petroleum Geologist, Paul worked for Skelly, Lion Oil, Monsanto, McCormick, and Sun Belt. He was a resident of La Porte for 40-years.  He was an active member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in La Porte, Texas where he sang in the choir and served on the vestry.  Paul grew up sailing on Lake Erie and loved sailboat racing and cruising on Galveston Bay.  He was active at the Houston Yacht Club and served as Commodore in 1985.  Paul was a member of the Blue Gavel and the Texas Navy.  His hobbies included bridge, reading, singing, playing the piano, and sailing.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, April 25^th, 1:30 PM at St. John’s Episcopal Church in La Porte.  In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St John’s Episcopal Church, 815 S. Broadway Street, La Porte, Texas 77571, in memory of Paul Clemens Berner, Sr.