Robert Fischer, 88, of Hamshire, died June 17, 2010, at Baptist Hospital, Beaumont, following a lengthy illness. 

Mr. Fischer was born in Port Arthur on November 22, 1921.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Eula Fischer, of Hamshire. 

Mr. Fischer is survived by his wife of sixty-nine years, Emily Fischer; his son, Hal Fischer, of Hamshire; his daughter, Betty Wilburn and her husband Bob Wilburn, of Silsbee; and his grandson, Melvin Stuckman III, of Baltimore, Maryland.  He is also survived by his sisters, Mildred Stagg, of Beaumont, and Leota McDonald, of Bay City, and his brother, Orval Fischer, of Hamshire. 

Mr. Fischer was a retired rice farmer.  His farming success was honored in 2009, when he was named Pioneer Farmer of the Year by the Texas Rice Festival. His high crop yields are long remembered as exemplary by other farmers.  

He was also a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Hamshire.  Many remember his service as a dedicated nursery worker and grounds keeper. 

He took great delight in preparing land for both agricultural use and home building.  Many local homes were successfully built on the groundwork begun by Mr. Fischer’s keen eye for sculpting the land.

Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Saturday, June 19, 2010, at Broussard’s, 134 W. Buccaneer Drive in Winnie with burial to follow in Fairview Cemetery.  A gathering of family and friends will be 5:00-8:00 PM Friday at Broussard’s. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Kitchen Fund of the First Baptist Church of Hamshire, P.O. Box 369, Hamshire, TX, 77622.