Arthur Edward Schulze

Arthur Edward Schulze of Wharton, Texas passed away on March 17, 2019 at the age 80, from complications resulting from a fall. Art was born in Richmond, Texas on November 22, 1938 to Arthur Dorwin and Ida (Bockhorn) Schulze and was educated in the public schools of Richmond-Rosenberg. He graduated from Lamar Consolidated High School in 1957 and attended Texas Lutheran College in Seguin and the University of Texas at Austin, where he received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering. While in college he met Sharon Kay Havemann of West Point, Texas, on a blind date, and they were married in 1962. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Fort Worth, where Art worked for General Dynamics designing radar systems for the F-111 fighter aircraft and welcomed two sons to their family. In 1967, he moved with his family to Houston where he pursued studies at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston toward a master’s degree in the then-new field of biomedical engineering. After receiving his degree in 1969, Art pursued a long and varied career in medical device development in Houston, including work with NASA on medical measurement devices for astronauts. He went on to lead teams that developed the first portable defibrillator, the first personal computer voice synthesizer, and many other ground-breaking devices. He was involved in numerous entrepreneurial activities over the years and continued professional consulting and advising activities into semi-retirement right up until the time of his death. He holds nine U.S. patents for his inventions. In 1998, Art and Sharon moved to Wharton, where together they built the accomplishment they were most proud of: the 20th Century Technology Museum, which they opened in 2005. Art was also closely involved in the civic community in Wharton as a member of the Rotary Club and as chairman of the board of the Chamber of Commerce. Art is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sharon; two sons, Keith (Betsy) and Mark; four grandchildren, Sarah, Kristen, Paul, and Laura; sisters-in-law Sue Schulze and Vivian Schulze; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Ida, and brothers Martin and Kenneth. Visitation will be at Wharton Funeral Home on Thursday, March 21, 2019 from five to seven o’clock in the evening.  A funeral service will be held on Friday, March 22, 2019 at the First United Methodist Church of Wharton at eleven o’clock in the morning. Burial will follow in Morton Cemetery in Richmond. Those who so desire may make memorial donations in memory of Art to the 20th Century Technology Museum, P.O. Box 868, Wharton, Texas 77488, or to the charity of their choice.