Erlene Emma (Waak) Meinhart

Erlene Emma Waak Meinhart was born on the 19th day of November 1928 to Walter and Martha Waak in the Roach Prairie Community in Bellville, Texas. Erlene was an honor graduate from Bellville High School in the class of 1946. She then worked as a secretary for an attorney in Houston until her marriage to Robert (Bob) Meinhart. Bob was a family friend from little on. They married on June 5, 1948, and were married for 68 years. Erlene grew up in Bellville Methodist Church and joined Oakwood Methodist Church when she moved to Houston. She transferred back to Bellville Methodist Church when she and Bob retired. Erlene taught Sunday School for 18 years at Oakwood Church. She loved working with all the little children. When Bob retired, they moved back to the farm in 1982. Erlene helped with the hay-making and cattle. She also had a vegetable garden and loved growing flowers and going fishing. Erlene was famous for her homemade, crisp sugar cookies. She supported the Bellville Methodist Men and Bellville Fire Department by donating her sugar cookies for their fundraising auctions. Those cookies were a top sellers! Erlene enjoyed sewing and was an excellent seamstress — she made most of her and her daughter’s clothes and also sewed for the grandchildren. Erlene and Bob had three daughters: Laura Fay (husband James Voelkle), Carolyn Ann (husband Preston Smith), and Kathy Marie (husband Britt Bumguardner). They had seven grandchildren: Wendy Voelkle Hanks, Randy Voelkle, Zane Bumguardner, Marisa Bumguardner Denton, Kalee Bumguardner Castanon, Lori Bumguardner Espinal, and Amee Bumguardner; eleven great-grandchildren; two nieces and their husbands and one nephew and his wife. Erlene was preceded in death by her husband Bob; her daughter, Laura Fay; her brother and sister-in-law Calvin and Ruby Waak; sister-in-law Sylvia Fitzgerald and her great-granddaughter Isabella Hanks. Friends who wish may make memorial donations to Coshatte Cemetery (2401 Saddlehorn Trl, Katy, TX 77494).