Walter Eric Stivender, the beloved son of Kathleen Stivender, passed away suddenly on November 18, 2022. Eric was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana on October 27, 1958, and later moved to Houston where he graduated high school at Northwest Academy in 1977. Eric retired from Sulzer as a maintenance manager after 30 years of service.

He was a member of Oak Forest Lodge #1398 in Houston, Texas.

Eric was preceded in death by his wife, Patti Switzer Stivender; father, Simmie B. Stivender; grandparents, Walter and Mary Lee Dutsch; first cousin, Jeffery Scott Hamilton; and uncle, Lewis Dumas.

He loved taking road trips on his Harley with his wife, Patti, father, and friends creating many wonderful memories that he liked to share.

Eric spent over 20 years studying karate, cross-trained in jiu-jitsu and also studied "the art of drawing the sword" called IAI, at Houston Budokan under Darrell Craig, which was a large part of his life and eventually inducted into the Chiba Samurai family.

Eric was a member of First Baptist Church of Huntsville.

Services for Eric will be held at 11am, Tuesday November 22, 2022 at First Baptist Church, 1229 Avenue J, Huntsville, Texas. Food and fellowship to follow.

Eric is survived by his mother Kathleen Stivender; brother Errol Stivender; sister-in-law, Carolyn Stivender; nephews Alec and Preston Stivender; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Susan and Jim Robertson; godson, Eric Young; aunts, Karen Dumas and Judy James; first cousins, Randy Dumas, Mary Dumas, and Jarrett Hamilton; and one great-nephew, Camden Stivender.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions should be made to First Baptist Church of Huntsville - Church Ministries or the charity of your choice in memory of Eric.

Services are entrusted to Heritage Oak Funeral Home.