Carl Van Harwood, 81, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, May 10, 2024, in Houston, Texas. Born January 6, 1943, in Winters, Texas to Clifton "Shorty" Harwood and Sidney Colwell Harwood.

Van was raised in San Angelo, Texas where he was a proud member of Central High School Bobcats Class of 1962.

After graduating from Central High School, Van briefly attended San Angelo Junior College before joining the Air Force in May 1963 and he was Honorably Discharged in May 1967. Van proudly served as a Load Master on a C130 aircraft stationed in Bangkok, Thailand. After his discharge from the Air Force, Van headed to New Orleans, Louisiana to begin his long career in the Oilfield.

Van retired from Texaco International after 34 years of service; spending most of his career with Texaco in Angola, West Africa. His retirement was short-lived (4 months) when ExxonMobil came calling for Van to return to Angola, West Africa to work for ExxonMobil for approximately 6 months. Fourteen years later, Van retired from ExxonMobil having worked in Angola, West Africa; Chad; and DeadHorse, Alaska.

Hence, Van began his final career as a Para Professional at Fiest Elementary School in Houston where he fell in love with his Staff but most importantly his "kids". Van always worried that he did not make an impression on those children he worked with; but it never failed when we were out and about in our neighborhood, and he would come across a parent or a child that he worked with, and both the parent and the student would come and say "Hi" and give him a hug. He even had past students walk from the Middle School to the Elementary School just to give Van a hug at the end of a school day.

Van had a strong commitment and love of his faith and the Methodist Church, something he inherited from his Dad. He started a Bible Study while working for Texaco in Angola, West Africa that the men still continue to this day. He was proud to share his love of Jesus with anyone who crossed his path.

Van met Teri Elswick in 1980 and were later married in 1982. Van loved and cherished his friends, loved golf and loved his four-legged girls; Gracie, Marlie and Baylie. He was proceeded in death by his father, Clifton "Shorty" Harwood; his mother, Sidney Colwell Harwood; and his sister, Sharon Harwood Bowman; as well as Baylie, Marlie and Gracie.

He is survived by his wife, Teri of 42 years; his four-legged children Kodi and Kaisi; his nephews Barry Bowman of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Byron Bowman and his wife April of Sperry, Oklahoma; Branda Bowman Enterline and her husband Rex of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He is also survived by his daughters in love; Lauren Moreno and her life partner Madison Jeffrey of Brenham, Texas and Alex Moreno of New York City, New York.