Charles “Bert” Bertram Andries

Charles “Bert” Andries, 92, of Big Spring, passed away Tuesday, January 6, 2021, at Lamun-Lusk-Sanchez Texas State Veterans Home. He will lie in state from 8:30 am to 7:00 pm Monday, January 11, 2021 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel. A rosary will be begin at 7:00 pm at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 am, Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Mt. Olive Memorial Park.

He was born on June 10, 1928 in Houston, Texas to John and Josephine Andries. Bert attended a Sam Houston School in Houston, Texas until the age of 10. His family moved to Overton, Texas, near Kilgore, and he attended Rocky Mount Elementary from 1938 to 1941 and then proceeded to New London High School from 1941 to 1945. The Andries then moved to Kilgore, Texas right after the New London, Texas School gas explosion on March 8, 1937 that killed 269 students, 16 teachers and 8 staff.

Bert attended Kilgore College from 1945 to 1947where he took many electronic courses. He then went to Texas Technological College (Texas Tech) from 1948 to 1950 all while working for Nelson Electric Co. Instead of graduating, he decided to join the Navy. Bert (a Korean War Veteran) enlisted in the Navy and served from April 11, 1951 through March 24, 1955. He served during the Korean War Era on a destroyer, USS Currier (DE 700) as an Electrical Engineer. Bert was awarded the following medals: National Defense Service Medal; United Nations Service Medal; Korean Service Medal; China Service Medal; Korean Presidential Unit Citation; and the Good Conduct Metal. He would volunteer his time at the Boys Club of San Diego when he was in port and stationed there in 1954. Bert probably didn’t know that at the time that he would be applying his volunteer talents to the future operations of the Big Spring Boys’ Club.

Bert then again attended Texas Tech in 1955 and graduated in 1956. He   worked for Cosden Refinery during his summers. Bert was also active with the Boy Scouts in Lubbock, Texas as Scout Master. They threw him a big graduation party in May of 1956. Bert came to Big Spring in 1956 and was a dedicated long-time member of the Big Spring Lions Club and was a Knight of Columbus.

Bert became director of the Big Spring Boy’s Club from 1968 until retiring in 2001. He put in 40 years all together volunteering up through July 2008. He worked some with the Big Spring Boys Club even before he became Director.  After he retired, he served as Scout Master for 15 years for the Boy Scouts, the Big Spring Buffalo Council. Bert obtained one of the highest Scouting awards, the Silver Beaver Award.

He loved to fly so much that he was a private pilot. He would fly his own Piper Tri-Pacer and A-11 from around 1960 until 1990. Every now and then he would even take the Scouts and Boys Club Members for a ride.

Bert became very ill and had bouts with his kidneys and became very depressed in early 2012. His brother, Julian Andries asked me (Nicholas Engel) if I would be Power of Attorney for Bert and that we should probably place Bert into Lamun-Lusk-Sanchez Texas State Veterans Home in May 2012 for his wellbeing and via directives of Dr. Shroff. We felt that Bert would just get depressed again if we left him by himself in his home. Bert was also having problems of not being able to self-medicate properly and to feed himself in his home. He would want to express his deep appreciation for his care provided by Scenic Mountain Hospital and the staff at Lamun-Lusk-Sanchez Texas State Veterans Home.

He is survived by his brothers: Richard Andries, Julian Andries, and Gerald (Jerry) Andries; several nieces and nephews; his long time care giver, Teresa Gonzalez; and his power of attorney and good friend, Nicholas Engel.

Preceded in death by his parents, John and Josephine Andries; sisters, Mary Jo Baceal and Whibry Ellis; brothers: Gilbert Andries, Francis Andries, Paul Andries, Ronald Andries, and Donald Andries.

The family would like to thank the Hospice team that took care of and stayed with Bert during his last moments.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.