Sheldon Greenberg, 92, of Beaumont, died Thursday, June 5, 2014. A lifelong resident of Beaumont, he was born on September 6, 1922, to Jenny and Benjamin Greenberg.
After graduating from Beaumont High School in 1939, Sheldon attended Lamar State College before transferring to the University of Texas at Austin in 1943. He answered a call to arms by volunteering to the United States Army Air Corps as a pilot trainee. While at Santa Ana he flew PT 22's, and was then transferred to Barksdale Field in Shreveport Louisiana. He went on to train as a radio operator and tail gunner for the B-26 bomber. He was transferred to Alexandria, Louisiana where he met the love of his life and life partner, Betty Kaplan. After a six week romance, they were married on February 24, 1946. They moved to Beaumont where Sheldon joined his father and brother, Sigmund Albert Klein and son, Jerry in the family business known as the Fair Store. During his time with the family business he expanded the original four stores to twenty-eight stores in Texas and Greens Department Stores of Louisiana.
He was known for his extreme generosity of time, funds, and kindness and was the longest serving director of the American National Bank with over thirty-two years of service.
Survivors include his wife, Betty; children, Frank Greenberg and his wife, Jennifer; Sherry Shefman and her husband, Michael, all of Austin; and Marc Greenberg of Beaumont; daughter-in-law, Barbara Brookner and her husband, Steven; granddaughter, Jenny Palermo and her husband, Thomas; great-grandchildren, Trey Palermo and Lilly Palermo, all of Houston; niece, Dena Frankfurt; nephew, Brad Klein; friend, Tommy Hogan; and special friend, Kelley Grace.
He is preceded in death by his sons, Bruce Greenberg and Jeff Greenberg; brother, Sigmund; and sister, Martha.
The family would like to thank Dr. Jeremy Huff and nurse, Penny; Home Health and Hospice nurses, Kimberly Lockhart, Shirley Herrington, Rena Droddy, and Neva Hollyfield; and Veronica Valdez and Pearlie Mae Woods.
A gathering of his family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Saturday, June 7, 2014, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 3:00 p.m., Sunday, June 8, 2014, at Temple Emanuel, 1120 Broadway Street, Beaumont, with interment to follow at Hebrew Rest Cemetery, Beaumont.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Greenberg’s memory to Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104, or to a charity of your choice.
