HOWARD FENDER

November 23, 1920 - January 26, 2008

FORT WORTH -- Howard Martin Fender, 87, died peacefully Saturday evening, Jan. 26, 2008. Memorial service: 2 p.m. Wednesday in Chapel of the Intercession at First Presbyterian Church of Fort Worth, 1000 Penn St. Interment: Private services were held for the family in the Fender Plot in Oakwood Cemetery. A reception will be held at River Crest Country Club after the memorial service. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, consideration of contributions to a charity of one's choice, in the judge's memory, is suggested. A native of Fort Worth, Howard was born Nov. 23, 1920, the son of J. Ernest and Katilee Martin Fender. He was a 1936 graduate of Central High School, now R.L. Paschal, and attended Kemper Military Institute before being appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Howard earned his law degree from Washington & Lee University. He was elected Tarrant County district attorney in 1952 and served for six years. In 1962, he served as assistant attorney general under Waggoner Carr and Crawford Martin as head of the enforcement division for 10 years. In 1973, Howard married Virginia Frels in Austin. They returned to Tarrant County, where he served as an assistant district attorney heading up the appellate division until his appointment as judge of Criminal District Court No. 2. He was elected chief justice of the Court of Appeals, Second Judicial District. After retiring from the Court of Appeals, he was appointed judge of County Criminal Court No. 7 from 1989 to 1996. Judge Fender continued hearing cases as a senior judge after leaving the active bench. He was a tireless campaigner whose trademark was passing out wooden nickels at campaign rallies. In addition to his parents, Judge Fender was preceded in death by his brother, James Ernest Fender Jr.; his daughter, Gage Fender Brown; and grandson, Grantland Keith Morrison. Survivors: His wife of 35 years, Virginia Frels Fender; daughters, Lael Moore Hasty and husband, Obie, of Austin and Laurie Moore Fender of Fort Worth; sons, Martini Fender and his wife, Melissa, of Arlington, Wyatt Fender of Houston and Ames Fender and his wife, Sarah, of Fort Worth; and grandchildren, Robert Everett "Reb" Byers III, Laura Katherine Blanton, Cabel, Creel and Alex Brown, Katilee Fender, Gage Fender and Georgia and King and India Fender. Robertson Mueller Harper Funerals & Cremations 1500 Eighth Ave., 817-924-4233