Clarence Scharbauer, III

Clarence Scharbauer III, age 74, passed away on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 in Midland, TX.  He was born on June 6, 1951 to Dorothy Turner Scharbauer and Clarence Scharbauer Jr. in Midland.  After graduating from Midland High School in 1969, where he lettered in both baseball and football, he attended Texas Christian University where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity graduating in 1973 with a degree in business management.  Upon graduating, Clarence returned to Midland to join his family’s oil & gas, ranching and real estate development business which he oversaw until his passing.

Clarence’s philanthropic nature led him to serve on numerous educational and charitable entities most notably SBC Corporation where he served as Chairman;  the Scharbauer Foundation where he served as trustee; the Abel-Hanger Foundation where he served as trustee; the Midland College Foundation where he served as a Board Member and Past President; Forward Midland where he served as a Board Member and Past President; High Sky Children’s Ranch where he served on the Board of Governors; Metropolitan YMCA where he served as a Board Member and Past President; United Way of Midland where he served as a Board Member and Past President; Midland Chamber of Commerce where he served on the Executive Committee and finally his beloved Texas Christian University where he served as a member of the Board of Trustees from 1990-2017, the Executive Committee, the Development Committee, the Student Relations Committee, Campaign Co-Chair and Chair of the Regional Campaigns for the Next Frontier Initiative, Member of the Search Committee for the Head Football Coach, Member of the Search Committee for the Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Namesake Benefactor, Campus Visionary and was Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 2011-2017.

Clarence was preceded in death by his parents Dorothy and Clarence Scharbauer Jr. and his sister Pamela Scharbauer.  He is survived by the love of his life Kerry Wallace Scharbauer; daughter Charlotte French, her husband Kirk French and their son Philip; daughter Kelly Whittenburg, her husband Ben Whittenburg and their sons Charlie and Wells; brothers Doug Scharbauer, Chris Scharbauer and their extended families.

Clarence was an extraordinarily talented and generous man with a self-deprecating sense of humor and who never met a stranger.  Of all his accomplishments, of which there were many, he would say he was most proud of his family, especially his three grandsons which he adored.  The family would like to extend a very special thank you to those who consistently cared for Clarence later in his life.  He will be deeply missed.  For everyone who reads this please take away the following in his honor:  be honest, be loving, be kind, always be generous to others, never take yourself too seriously, laugh, make others laugh louder, stop to think, respect the views of others, love those closest to you deeply, understand that it’s ok to not be understood, always try your hardest, try even harder when life gets tough, your toe is a long way from your heart and holy dang cow never stop cheering on the Horned Frogs!!

The memorial service will be held on Monday, November 3^rd at 2:00 at First Baptist Church located at 2104 W. Louisiana, Midland, TX 79701.  Arrangements are being made through Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home located at 3800 N. Big Spring St., Midland, TX 79710.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that gifts be made in Clarence’s memory to the Clarence Scharbauer III endowed scholarship at TCU, University Advancement, TCU Box 297044, Fort Worth, TX 76129 https://advancement.tcu.edu/new/give/Scharbauer or the West Texas Food Bank which is located at 1601 Westcliff Dr., Midland, TX 79703.

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