Funeral services for Louis Edvin Ludwig of Needville will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 23, 2016, at Immanuel Evangelical Church in Needville with Rev. Terry Hodge and Rev. George Kuebler officiating. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery in Rosenberg. Serving as pall bearers will be Roland Conrad, James Graeber, Lloyd Hartmann, Neil Kalinowski, W. C. Todd, and Leroy Stavinoha.

Visitation will be Wednesday, June 22, 2016 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Garmany & Carden Chapel in Needville, TX.

Mr. Ludwig passed away June 19, 2016 at the SPJST Nursing & Rehabilitation Facility in Needville, Texas. He was born May 20, 1922 in Beasley, Texas, the son of Christian John and Minnie Knipstein Ludwig.

Louis Ludwig graduated from Beasley High School as valedictorian of his class. He enrolled and graduated from Texas Lutheran Junior College. After graduation he was inducted into the United States Army and trained at Southwestern Oklahoma State University as an aircraft mechanic. It was during this time he met his future wife, Doris Helen Sawatzky from Weatherford, Oklahoma.

Upon completion of training, Louis served in England and France during World War II, servicing, maintaining, and repairing the various aircraft used during the war. In 1946, Louis returned to the United States, was honorably discharged from the Army, and married his sweetheart, Doris Sawatzky.

They settled in Needville, where he accepted a teaching position in the Needville School System, grades 1-9. He taught Algebra, American History, and English. In addition, from 1946-1951, he coached football, basketball, and softball, drove a school bus, and earned two degrees, a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Education from the University of Houston.

When the Needville High School was opened in 1948, Louis taught all the mathematics courses from Algebra to Calculus. He continued to coach football, basketball, baseball and track. In 1953 Louis became principal of Needville High School, and in 1961 became the Superintendent of Needville School District for 19 years, retiring in 1980.

During his teaching career, Louis was also an active member of the community. He was involved as a Church Council Member and Sunday School teacher of Immanuel United Church of Christ, a Scout Master of Boy Scouts of America, a member of Needville Band Boosters, Needville Lions Club, Blue Jay Quarterback Club, Ft. Bend County School Administrators, Needville P.T.A., Texas State Teachers' Association, and National Teachers' Association.

Mr. Ludwig was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Doris Ludwig, his parents Christian and Minnie Ludwig, brother Walter and his wife Vlasta Ludwig, brother Edvin and his wife, Alma Ludwig, brother Otto and his wife, Meta Ludwig, brother Reuben, brother Alvin, sister Malinda and her husband, William Graeber, and sister, Alvina and her husband, Norbert Hartmann, Sr.

He is survived by sons: Mark Ludwig and wife Maura, grandson Christian and his wife Linda, and great grandsons Louis and Oliver; Charles Ludwig and his wife Tamara and grandson Daniel and his wife Katherine.

The Ludwig family would like to thank Dr. Art Klawitter and the staff at SPJST for the care and attention given to our dad.

Memorials may be made to Immanuel Evangelical Church, 9018 Church Street, Needville, Texas 77461 or to the Alzheimer's Association, 6055 South Loop East, Houston, Texas 77087-1005.

Condolences may be left for the family at garmanycarden.com

Services are under the direction of Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors, Inc., 3103 School Street, Needville, Texas 77461. (979) 793-4515.