THOMAS GLENN HILDEBRAND

Thomas Glenn Hildebrand, age 81, of New Braunfels, Texas, and formerly of Houston, Texas, passed away on the 29th of March 2012. He was born in Houston, Texas on the 11th of March 1931 to Claude Glenn Hildebrand and Edith Suzanne Maguire Hildebrand. He graduated from Milby High School in 1949, where he was salutatorian of his graduating class. He attended Texas A&M University and graduated in 1956 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Upon graduation, he and his wife, Ruth Ann Schilling Hildebrand moved to Houston and opened Airport Animal Hospital. During this time he also served as the veterinarian for the Houston Zoo. They later opened Animal Care Center in southwest Houston, as well as several grooming parlors located throughout the Houston area. He retired in 1991 to New Braunfels, Texas with his loving wife Ella. During his retirement, he shared his time between New Braunfels and the family farm in Brookshire. His retirement years were spent enjoying his family, spending countless hours attending his grandchildren's activities, always with a smile as he was so proud of each of their accomplishments. In addition to his family, he traveled in his motorhome, gardened, and played cards with friends. Family was always first but Texas A&M University was a close second. He was a lifetime Director of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a long-time member and served as Chairman of the Lamb Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a Tejas Vaquero, a member of the Flying Farmers of America, a member of the Texas A&M Class of '56, a Bronze Century Club member of the Texas A&M Association of Former Students, and a member of the Alpine Coach Association. He was a man of humble beginnings with an entrepreneurial spirit, who through hard work and his love for animals, achieved great success in his career.
He is survived by his wife, Ghizella "Ella" Adam Hildebrand; his sons, Brad Hildebrand, and Jeff Hildebrand and wife, Mindy; step-daughters, Daniela Lankford and husband, Alan, and Simona Toliver and husband, Joe; sister, Joanne Hildebrand Swanda; brother-in-law, James Allen Schilling; nieces, Glenda Chauvin Mariott, Sue Swanda, Nancy Swanda Coble and husband, Tim, Lezli Schilling-Goss and husband, Bryan, and Alexandra Schilling-Stark; nephews, Don Swanda and wife, Lynda, and Dave Swanda; grandchildren, Hunter Hildebrand, Brittany Hildebrand, Jeffery Hildebrand, and John Thomas Hildebrand; step-grandchildren, Tiffany Roten, Evan Tucker Jensen, Dallan Lankford, Elizabeth Lankford, Cody Toliver, and Travis Toliver; and many grand-nieces and grand-nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Ann Schilling Hildebrand; his parents, Claude Glenn Hildebrand and Edith Suzanne Maguire Hildebrand; his father and mother-in-law, Jesse James Schilling and Daisy Mae Schilling; his sister, Mary Hildebrand Chauvin; and his brothers-in-law, Rodney P. Chauvin, Jr. and Donald F. Swanda.
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from four o'clock in the afternoon until seven o'clock in the evening on Sunday, the 1st of April, in the Library and Grand Foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
The funeral service is to be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Monday, the 2nd of April, in the Sanctuary of Chapelwood United Methodist Church, 11140 Greenbay Street in Houston, where Dr. Jim Jackson, Senior Pastor, is to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception at a venue to be announced during the service.
Honored to serve as pallbearers are Butch Carrier, Bobby Jackson, Joe Mandola, Dr. Tom Sawyer, Mike Schroeder, Donnie Swanda, Lynn Poe, and Stone Williams.
In lieu of customary remembrances, kindly consider a donation in his memory to the Ruth Hildebrand Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, P. O. Box 20070, Houston, TX, 77225.