René Adrien Chapelle

René Adrien Chapelle was born on November 4, 1933 in Nîmes, France, and passed away on September 3, 2026.

René is survived by his wife, Clairice, his daughters Claire and Suzanne, his sons Gregory and Marc, and stepsons Bradley and David. René is the proud grandfather of 11: Nolan, Kelly, Wendell, William, Russell, Eric, Lucas, Nathan, Julia, Laura, and Amy.

René has a mechanical engineering degree from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Ingénieurs Arts et Métiers of Paris, France, and a Master and PhD degrees from the University of Oklahoma. Before starting his business career René was called by the military to the Algerian war, where he became a full lieutenant of the French Air Force. René started his career as a field geophysicist with Schlumberger in Algeria and then became district manager for Spain and Portugal. For a more stable and better family life René decided to work as a manufacturing methods engineer with Halliburton Company. With an engineering doctorate degree, he joined KPMC Peat Marwick in Los Angeles, an international financial audit and management consultant company, for which he worked across the U.S. and France, with major manufacturing companies and government entities. Tired of traveling, he joined Servco, a subsidiary of Smith International, an oil service company as Vice President of Manufacturing. He was later hired in France as Field Director then CEO of Topservices, a French company that was the first developer of horizontal hole drilling. Back in the U.S. he was hired by Dailey Petroleum Services as Vice President of R&D/Engineering and quickly also became plant manager. Then he joined Weatherford International as Vice President of Operations for all of Europe and Russia. When retired from the oil industry he was called to become a full-time Associate Professor in the College of Technology of the University of Houston, where later he became the Chairman of their Mechanical and Civil Technology department.

His leadership earned the respect of many, but it was his humanity that earned their affection. Those who worked under his leadership remember him not only as a mentor and guide, but as someone who genuinely cared for the people around him. His compassion for others extended beyond the workplace where he was warmly devoted to his family and cherished by his friends.

René was a French Calvinist Huguenot, and was devoted all his life to Christian and God belief. In his youth René was an active Boy Scout and Scout Master. He was a church Elder and a member of the choir. As a musician, René was past member of The Woodlands Chorale and enjoyed playing the violin with the Houston Symphony North.