Reinhart “Flip” Phillip Deschner

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Reinhart "Flip" Phillip Deschner, 90, of New Braunfels, Texas went home to be with Jesus on Tuesday, Oct. 24. He was born to Henry and Hannah Deschner on May 4, 1927 in Bebe, Texas.

He grew up in Gonzales County during the depression with his 2 brothers, Hank and Arlye. They enjoyed swimming in the slough on the Guadalupe River near Gonzales. In 1933, they lost their farm and the family moved to Cost where his younger brother, Everett was born. They moved to Gonzales in 1943. In Gonzales, he grew spiritually in the Methodist Church and was a leader in their youth group. His activities were singing in the choir at church and high school, becoming an Eagle Scout, being the lead in a high school play, playing football, running track, hunting, and fishing. Flip wanted to be a fighter pilot, but his mother's prayers and influence from being a nurse caused him to want to be a doctor. He graduated from Gonzales High School, then went to a semester at Southwestern University.

In March 1945, he joined the Navy as a Hospital Apprentice. He was stationed at Corona Naval Hospital near Riverside, California. He progressed to a Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class. Initially he was assigned to a rehab unit near Los Angeles. He later moved to the main hospital that dealt with patients with surgery wounds, patients with TB, patients with psychological problems, and patients with spinal cord injuries. He was a one-man Recreation Therapist as patients often paid him to take them to football games, out to eat, fishing, plays, and special events.

After discharge in 1947, he went back to Southwestern University as a Premed student with a double major in biology and chemistry and a minor in psychology. At Southwestern, he earned his nickname while playing football and flipping over a player. An old girlfriend saw the game and knew his middle name was Phillip and came up with "Flip." He graduated in 1949 and was the alternate for Southwestern Medical School the next year.

Also at Southwestern, He met Rebecca Ann Tittle. On Dec. 17, 1949, they were married in Brownsville, Texas. All three sons, Bill, Bob and Monte were born in Brownsville. In 1957, they moved to Highland, Indiana where Rose Ann was born in 1959. Later that year, they moved to Seymour, Indiana, where Janette was born in 1960. Flip always said they had to move North to have girls.

Flip was a teacher for 1 year before starting as a chemist for Stanolind Oil and Gas, a division of Standard Oil, then Amoco. Flip advanced to chemical engineer and moved to Chicago. A few years later he became project chemical engineer and moved to Seymour, Indiana. With Amoco, he took trips to Saudi Arabia and Philippines to be a troubleshooter on projects dealing with the propellant in sidewinder missiles. In 1976, he changed careers to become an environmental engineer, recycling industrial waste products into usable substances for Kraft Foods in Champaign, Illinois. In 1990, he became the plant engineer for Recontek, a company focused on reducing pollution.

Flip has always been active member of the Methodist Churches in Gonzales, Texas; Brownsville, Texas; Seymour, Indiana; Monticello, Illinois; and New Braunfels, Texas. He was a member of the Methodist Men, Boys Scouts, Choir, Stephens Ministries, Sunday School, Noon Lions of New Braunfels and Hill Country Barbershop Quartet. He and Rebecca worked on mission trips to Kentucky, Mexico, and storm ravaged areas in Illinois and Texas. He was also a starter and/or head judge at most of his children's swim meets from park programs to college.

Flip was very proud of all of his children and grandchildren. He was very proud to have five Christian children, five college graduates and three children with masters and one medical doctor. He has celebrated each of his grandchildren's accomplishments of college graduates, master’s degrees, PhD, and medical doctor. He loved to talk about all the technical details they have studied.

Flip is known for his intelligence, service and pointing people to Jesus. He always had a new and better way to do anything. He was very proud of his technical problem solving ability. He always had projects to help people. He thrived on helping people! He wanted all his friends and family to know Jesus, so he would see them in heaven.

Flip is survived by his brother, Everett and Carolyn Deschner, children, Drs. William and Lorrie Deschner, Robert Deschner, Monte Deschner, Rose Ann and Rick Lawson, and Janette McConaha, grandchildren, Margaux Deschner, Dr. Ryan and Katie Deschner, John Deschner, Kate Deschner, Dr. Ben and Katie Deschner, Matt Deschner, Daniel Deschner, Caris Deschner, Hannah Deschner, Hughes Deschner, Shawn Korby, Alecia Scales, Danielle Sharp, Amanda McConaha, Mindy and Travis Baughman, and Melissa McConaha, and Great Grandchildren, William Deschner, Samuel Reinhart Deschner, Reece Phillip Deschner, Kelby Korby, Leah Korby, Cinea Scales, Jameson Scales, Tye Thomas, Conner Thomas, Reilly Sharp, Theo Sharp, Joel Sharp Jr., and Hazel Mae Baughman.

Public visitation will be Friday, Nov. 3, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Zoeller Funeral Home in New Braunfels, Texas. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 10 a.m. at Zoeller Chapel. Enterrement will follow in Cost, Texas, at Monthalia United Methodist Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Reinhart Deschner's name may be given to Southwestern University, P.O. Box 770, Georgetown, Texas 78627-0770.

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