| Notes |
Don Tobin
.
TOBIN
DON FREEMAN TOBIN
1915 - 2011
Don Freeman Tobin, 95, passed away June 28 surrounded by children an
d grandchildren at his ranch in Bandera County. The son of an Irish im
migrant and pioneer ranching family, he was born in 1915 in Casper, Wy
oming near his family's Wyoming ranch. As a youth, he spent his summer
s working at the family ranch and for a year after college lived in a
old sheepherder's covered wagon working the ranch from horseback. H
e graduated from the University of Colorado, earning a degree in geolo
gy and entered the oil business. He met his wife, Peggy Portwood, th
e daughter of the Superintendent of San Antonio public schools and the
y were married at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in San Antonio shortly a
fter the beginning of World War II. Tobin served in the U.S. Army Ai
Corps, training pilots in meteorology and navigation. After the war
, he graduated from St. Mary's Law School, attending classes on night
s and weekends in the building that is now the La Mansion Hotel in dow
town San Antonio. Tobin was a leader among the independent oil men o
f Texas, making numerous discoveries in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma
. He was elected President of the internationally prestigious America
Association of Petroleum Geologists and travelled around the world p
omoting scientific research and the advancement of the science of geo
logy. Tobin served as President of the San Antonio Charro Association
, and was instrumental in establishing the present day Charro Ranch ne
ar Mission San Jose. He was a long-time Board member of the Southwes
t Research Institute and served as the President of the former San Ant
onio Children's Home, which later developed into the Clarity Child Gui
dance Center. Tobin was a faithful and life long member of the Rotar
y Club of San Antonio, living out its motto of Service Above Self an
d serving as one of three generations of Presidents, including his fat
her-in-law Tom Portwood before him, and his son Patrick after him. Hi
s heart was always at his Bandera ranch where since the 1940's the Tob
in family has raised cattle, sheep, horses and grown blue ribbon quali
ty hay. His happiest days were spent at the ranch in the company of hi
s big and loving family. He is survived by his wife Peggy, their eigh
t children, Don, Tim, Martha Bersch, Phillip, Mark, Patrick, Kathlee
Krueger, and Ann Hevenor, and nineteen grandchildren, eight great gr
andchildren. A graveside service was held at the Tobin Ranch in Bander
a at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 2. In lieu of flowers donations may be mad
e in his honor to St. Christopher's Episcopal Church of Bandera or th
e Bandera County Public Library. The family invites you to send condol
ences at www.grimesfuneralchapels.com by selecting the
"Send Condolences" link.
Funeral Arrangements are entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Bander
a.
.
Published in Express-News from July 1 to July 3, 2011
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1915 - 2011 (96 years) Has no ancestors but 35 descendants in this family tree.
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