WARREN BERNARD (BENNY) ITZ, born October 25, 1921 in San Antonio, TX, passed away peacefully in Houston on January 28, 2018. His loving wife, Nancy Itz, his parents Theo Ahr Itz and Max Itz, and his brother, Howard Itz preceded him in death. He is survived by son David and wife Julie, son Harrison and wife Debra, granddaughters Elsa and husband Darren, Sarah and husband David, and Mary, step grandchildren Jennifer and Matthew, great granddaughters Kacey, Jackie and Nancy and great grandson Warren, and step great grandchildren Thomas, Marilyn and Malcolm. Benny loved Jesus Christ and had many active years at Presbyterian (PCUSA) churches in San Antonio, Gilroy, CA, and Houston. He served as a Deacon from 1954 to 1962 and as an Elder from 1962 forward and was a member of several committees at the Presbytery of New Covenant.  After high school at the Texas Military Institute (TMI) in San Antonio, Benny attended The University of Texas in Austin from 1939 to December, 1941. His college education was interrupted by World War II when he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in January, 1942. He trained as a dive bomber pilot and later was a Senior Air Controller and Command Air Operations Officer, setting up front line air bases as the Allies moved from Normandy across France and into Germany. Benny was honorably discharged with the rank of Major in 1946 and remained in the Reserves until 1955.  In 1947 he finished his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration specializing in International Trade and Finance.  He was married to Nancy on August 10 of that year and began ranching with his father-in-law in South Texas. After the drought of the early 1950s, Benny joined the National Bank of Commerce in San Antonio in 1952.  He resumed ranching and farming in the 1960s and then began a career in worldwide agricultural sales in 1970, holding various positions with Star Seed and Grain, Keystone International, Union Carbide and Royal Dutch Shell. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Morningside Manor, a non-denominational retirement and nursing home in San Antonio, served two terms on the Board of Directors of the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo, served on the Board of Directors and several committees of the Alamo Kiwanis Club, was a member of the President’s Committee at Trinity University, and served as Division Chairman for the United Way on several occasions. He was also active in the Fellowship Sunday School Class and volunteered at Operation ID, Channel 8 Membership Drives and Ben Taub Hospital.  The family would like to express their profound gratitude to the staff of The Hallmark, where Benny enjoyed living since 2012, and also to the doctors and staff of Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center and Houston Hospice for providing wonderful and compassionate care to him in his final days. 

Benny will be interred in San Antonio.

On Sunday, February 11 at 4 pm, a memorial service will be led by the Rev. Lynne Hargrove at The Hallmark, Houston. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Presbytery of New Covenant, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University or to a charity of your choice.

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