The Cullen College of Engineering expresses its condolences to the family of Luces Maurice Faulkenberry, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Engineering Technology.
Faulkenberry passed away peacefully on April 28 at the age of 82. He was always known as Luke to his friends.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 25 years, Patricia “Patsy” Kate Gaspard Hicks Faulkenberry; his two children, Laura Lea Faulkenberry and Matt Lucas Faulkenberry; his adopted son/grandson Jamen Faulkenberry Hicks; his stepchildren Wendy Kate, Scott Edward, and Susana Brooke Hicks; his grandchildren Evelyn Lea and Rhys Roberts Keevil, Cameron Hicks Cruzan, and Joshua Tyler Hicks; and his son-in-law Robert Keevil. Faulkenberry was preceded in death by his grandchild Ronald “Ronnie” Flemons. He is also survived by his two younger sisters Beverly Jackson and Pamela Jones, along with a niece and nephews.
Faulkenberry was born Sept. 24, 1942, in Douglas, Arizona to Iona Mae (Judah) and Luches John “Boots” Faulkenberry. He was raised in Moriarty and Tijeras, New Mexico, surrounded by his mother’s family and his stepfather, Kenneth Stout.
He entered New Mexico Highlands University after his junior year in high school in 1959, and joined the United States Air Force in 1960, where he served in Minnesota as a Missile Electronics Technician. After his honorable discharge, Faulkenberry worked and learned the art of designing electronics circuitry and helped develop electrical projects. That experience spurred him to earn a Physics degree with a Math minor at University of Texas at Arlington from 1967 to 1970.
Faulkenberry married Dixie Lea Bogard on Feb. 19, 1966, and they settled in Waco and then Axtell Texas, where they had two children, Laura Lea and Matt Lucas. He was able to live a country lifestyle during these years, perfecting his skill as an amateur photographer, focused on landscapes and portraits of the natural world. The family vacations always had long stretches on the side a country road so Faulkenberry could take the perfect photo of a new vista. He also played guitar, wrote music, and would happily sing to you any old-time country ballad that you could think of and many of his own creation. He wrote and had copywrites on numerous songs and music.
Faulkenberry first taught at Texas State Technical Institute, finding his true academic passion for teaching students. The academic and technical focus of his career led him in 1982 to the University of Houston College of Technology, where he spent the rest of his career, ascending to Associate Professor of Engineering Technology and retiring as an Emeritus Professor.
Heidar Malki, the Senior Associate Dean of the Technology Division, noted Faulkenberry’s strong commitment to students during his decade-plus tenure as the Chair of the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Electrical Power Engineering Technology for over a decade.
“Throughout his leadership, he remained deeply committed to his guiding principle: students first, faculty and staff next,” Malki said. “He was not only a mentor and educator but also a leader who was universally respected. Students held him in high regard, often speaking of his dedication and impact on their education. Among faculty and staff, he was admired for his fairness, wisdom and unwavering support.”
Faulkenberry collaborated with other academic professors and students to create a body of work on electrical technology and power systems, and his co-written textbooks were translated into many languages. He continued his education while pursuing his career, earning a Masters and Doctor of Education (Ph.D.) at Texas A&M. He was sometimes referred to by his daughter as Dr. Dad. He participated in IEEE and served on numerous UH committees and associations.
Malki said he would deeply miss Faulkenberry.
“On a personal note, Dr. Faulkenberry hired me in 1991, and I had the privilege of working alongside him for many years. I witnessed firsthand his leadership style — marked by respect, dignity and a genuine desire to see others succeed. He treated every colleague as valued and capable, fostering an environment where people could thrive.”
He added, “If I were to describe Luke in one word, it would be selfless. He was a devoted member of our academic community, and his legacy will endure through the many lives he touched.”
It was an exciting second half of Faulkenberry’s life that started when he met and married Patsy Hicks on March 11, 2000. They traveled extensively, enjoying their families and friends, and made singing a family business as they sang in honky-tonk bars near Kingwood. They also welcomed their grandson, Jamen, into their life and home, eventually adopting him on Nov. 16, 2018.
Faulkenberry’s last years were colored by his decline with the onset of dementia, but he never lost his love of music and his love of Patsy. He will be missed for his kind heart, intelligence and his love for family. Though he is no longer with us, his spirit lives on in the lives he touched, and we pray that God will rest his soul in peace.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to the Luces M. Faulkenberry endowed scholarship at the University of Houston.
A committal service was held on May 7 at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive. Following the committal service, a memorial service was held at Kingwood Methodist Church, 1799 Woodland Hills Drive, Houston. For more information, visit his online memorial page.
Obituary courtesy of the Faulkenberry family, with additional reporting by communications staff.