Ernest Carl Atsinger, Jr. 

June 10, 1930 - May 11, 2016

Math teacher, grade level principle, administrative principle and head principle at Spring Woods

Obituary:

He was the 4th of 6 children (1st son) born to Ernest Carl Atsinger and Alvine Amalia Lange Atsinger in Houston, Texas on June 10, 1930. The family spoke German in their home and the siblings learned English when they started elementary school at Immanuel Lutheran.

In high school, Ernie was the 1st Lieutenant in Command of Company D and member of the Rifle Team in ROTC at Reagan High School. He worked odd jobs including an extensive paper route, Aikens Drug Store, wood working, and floor covering where he first met the love of his life, Janet Lee Fite, who lived next door to the company’s owner.

From Dec. 1950 to Nov. 1954 he was a Technical Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force as a short order cook, and his most significant duty assignment was the 2nd radio squadron mobile which required crypto clearance. He spent 3-1/2 years in Germany during the Korean War, making memories that he told stories about until the end. He earned the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Occupation Medal Germany. After his discharge (on Veterans Day as he liked to recount), he and Janet married in Houston, Texas on July 2, 1955 and their daughters, Terry, Alisa and Carlyn were born in 1956, 1968 and 1969, respectively.

He earned his undergraduate degree in education at the University of Houston and his masters in mathematics at Sam Houston State University. He went to work for Spring Branch Independent School District in 1962 where he would work for the next 33 years! He was a math teacher at both Memorial and Spring Woods high schools during the early years, and in 1969 he became the Assistant Principal at Spring Forest Junior High. Two years later he was back at Spring Woods High School where he would advance from grade level principal to administrative principal in 1977 and finally head principal in 1981.

He made great effort to attend at least one of every extracurricular activity every year while head principal, and he and Janet chaperoned many band and drill team field trips during his tenure. Finally, he served the district’s administration as Executive Director for Maintenance, Operations and Transportation from 1987 to 1995 when he retired.

Ernie’s hobbies included wood working, solitaire (every morning with a deck of cards most of his life but he advanced to computer solitaire in later years), friendly family competitions, whistling and holding/rocking/singing/napping with all of his grandchildren.

He and Janet purchased two lots near Matagorda Bay in 1971, and over the next year Ernie used his wood working skills to build their bay house. The family spent most weekends and entire summers at the bay and entertained many family and friends there. This is also where he taught his girls to water ski and drive motorcycles.

Over the years, he built furniture for his and his daughters’ houses including china cabinets, buffets, bunk beds, desks, entertainment centers, fireplace mantles, built-in shelving, and for each grandchild he built their first “big kid” bed when they graduated from a crib. He was always up for a game of ping pong, carom, and his favorite - 42.

He was known for his colorful wardrobe, his deep, booming, and at times intimidating voice, and for singing and whistling. His favorite color was red – as long as it was on his beautiful wife! He loved his family dearly, was proud of having served his country, and his 80th birthday celebration was one of the happiest moments of his life.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Janet Fite Atsinger; three daughters: Terry Ford, Alisa Calabrese, and Carlyn Ford and her husband Jeremy; seven grandchildren: Victoria and Melody Ford, Conner and Cole Calabrese, and Hayden Perry and Alexis and Mason Ford; and two siblings: Margaret Ludwig and Victor Atsinger and his wife Sylvia. He was predeceased by three siblings: Alma Atsinger Paulus, Dorothy Atsinger Stoppenhagen, and Louis Atsinger.

Visitation will be held 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sunday, May 15, 2016 at Earthman Resthaven Funeral Home. The Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, May 16, 2016 in the Chapel of Earthman Resthaven, with his brother Victor Atsinger, officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either Star of Hope by visiting www.sohmission.org or to the Salvation Army at www.salvationarmyhouston.org.