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Dr. Arnold H. Bouma

Dr. Arnold H. Bouma

  • September 5, 1932 - December 16, 2011
  • Frisco, Texas
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Memories & Candles

“I just came across this and felt so compelled to write. I know it's very late in coming but I was part of this man's family for a few years. He was...Read More » ”
1 of 24 | Posted by: Allison Patton - TX

“Dear Lieneke & Family, Your Christmas card was returned to us, and going online, we found out about Arnold's recent passing. We shall always...Read More » ”
2 of 24 | Posted by: Dik & Irene Jones - Henderson, NV

“Dear Lieneke: My sincere sympathy to you and your children at the passing of Arnold. I know you have many years of many dear memories to sustain...Read More » ”
3 of 24 | Posted by: Marge Fruge (van Morkhoven) - TX

“Thanks so much Nol for having been an excellent teacher, mentor and friend; to Lieneke , Mark, Bob,Lars and family, our thoughts are very much with...Read More » ”
4 of 24 | Posted by: Joop Langelaar

“Many fond memories exist of my time spent with Arnold. Beginning with my first field seminar with him, then proceeding to many other sessions and...Read More » ”
5 of 24 | Posted by: Charles G. Stone - Conway, AR

“We will all miss Arnold. He was a great teacher. He taught me many things. Sorry for your loss. ”
6 of 24 | Posted by: Doug Hanson - Little Rock, AR

“Lieneke and family, Nancy and I receive with great sadness the news of Arnold’s passing. It was a privilege to be taught and mentored by a great...Read More » ”
7 of 24 | Posted by: Mike and Nancy de Vries - Houston, TX

“I had the pleasure of speaking many times to Dr. Bouma and our conversations would usually start out on geology business and end-up laughing about...Read More » ”
8 of 24 | Posted by: Chester Young

“Lieneke and kinderen Met onsteltenis lazen wij Nol's overlijdens bericht in de Houston Chronicle. We wensen jou en je kinderen sterkte in deze...Read More » ”
9 of 24 | Posted by: Jan en Johanna Hardenbol - TX

“I'm deeply saddened to hear of Arnold's passing. Dr. Bouma's passion for his work was infectious to me as a young geologist. To be a graduate...Read More » ”
10 of 24 | Posted by: Dan Rozman - Denver, CO

“Jennifer and I send our deepest condolences to Lieneke and the entire Bouma family. I will always be grateful for the opportunity that Arnold gave me...Read More » ”
11 of 24 | Posted by: Don Rehmer - Alto Pass, IL

“Dear Mrs. Bouma and Family, I was surprised and saddened when I saw Dr. Bouma's photo and obituary in the Houston Chronicle. I was his Secretary...Read More » ”
12 of 24 | Posted by: Mrs. Madeline Scherrer Denniston - TX

“Being a professor in sedimentology at the University of Oslo, with interests in deep-water depositional systems, I met Arnold for first time many...Read More » ”
13 of 24 | Posted by: Johan Petter Nystuen Oslo, Norway

“Lieneke and Sons, So sorry for your loss and know that you are in my prayers. It has been a long time since we visited but I remember...Read More » ”
14 of 24 | Posted by: Eddy Sims - Baton Rouge, LA

“Lieneke, Mark and the Bouma Family,, I express my deepest sympathy and condolences at the passing of Arnold H. Bouma. As you know, he and I met...Read More » ”
15 of 24 | Posted by: George Devries Klein - Richmond, TX

“Lars, Vicki, and Family, Although we have only known each other for a brief period I was saddened to learn of your Father’s passing. Please...Read More » ”
16 of 24 | Posted by: George Bohle - Oklahoma, OK

“Arnold Bouma convinced me to start with an MSc focussing on Marine Sediments under his guidance. As a result I have never regretted my later decision...Read More » ”
17 of 24 | Posted by: Ruud Schüttenhelm

“Our heartfelt condolences to Lineke and Arnold's sons and the rest of his family. Arnold was a great friend and colleague who we will miss greatly.. ”
18 of 24 | Posted by: Chacko and Rosemary John - LA

“Mr Arnold Bouma was a remarkable scientist providing significant contributions in his field of geological sciences for years to come. The best part...Read More » ”
19 of 24 | Posted by: Rusty Gilbert - Pleasanton, CA

“My greatest sympathies go out to Lieneke and the rest of the Bouma Family during this time. I was fortunate to work with Arnold as an undergraduate...Read More » ”
20 of 24 | Posted by: Kelly Poret - Lafayette, LA

“To Arnold Bouma: Your Contributions to Geological Science have been wonderful. Thank you for a lifetime of ethics and honor. Marc Dupuy,...Read More » ”
21 of 24 | Posted by: Marc Dupuy, Jr. - Marksville, LA

“To Lieneka and the entire Bouma family we offer our deepest sympathy at hearing of Arnold’s passing. He was not only a great scientist; he was an...Read More » ”
22 of 24 | Posted by: Alan Lee Brown - Austin , TX

“I was greatly saddened to learn of Arnold's passing this morning. He had a tremendous impact on my life and was instrumental in fostering my...Read More » ”
23 of 24 | Posted by: Richard Loftin - Houston, TX

“Mrs. Bouma and Family, My thoughts and prayers are with each of you. Dr. Bouma was a remarkable man and will be missed by all. Brigitte ”
24 of 24 | Posted by: Brigitte Caston - Baton Rouge , LA



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Dr. Arnold H. Bouma, "A truly caring man who put his family and students first, who truly impacted thousands of lives." Surrounded by his family, Arnold H. Bouma passed away the evening of December 16th 2011, at the age of 79.

He is survived by his best friend and wife for over five decades, Lieneke; their three sons and their families: Mark A. Bouma and wife, Elizabeth and children, Tamara Bouma, Logan Bouma, and Kelsey Bouma; Bobby Bouma and wife, Gina and children, Colt Webb and Sydney Bouma; Lars Bouma and wife, Vicki and children, Harrison Bouma and Carleigh Bouma.

He was known internationally in the geological world as "an extraordinary geoscientist, a prolific author and editor, an educator committed to the highest standard of teaching and a researcher who advanced the geocommunities' knowledge through his innovation, creativity and tireless contributions to deep-water sedimentology and stratigraphy."

Arnold Bouma was born in 1932 in Groningen, Netherlands. His professional education started at the State University at Utrecht, Netherlands, where he earned a Masters of Science in Geology, Sedimentology and Paleontology in 1959 and a PhD in Sedimentary Geology in 1961. Arnold Bouma's 1962 research findings identified a sequence for dividing deep-water turbidites into intervals – which later became known as "the Bouma Sequence"; it has been cited as being "a geological milestone of the 20th century." In 1966, Arnold and his family emigrated to the United States where he accepted a professorship in oceanography at Texas A&M University. From 1975 to 1981, he was a marine geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. Between 1981 and 1986, he was a senior scientist, manager, and acting vice president for Gulf Oil Research and Development Company. In 1986, he became a senior research associate at the Chevron Research and Development branch in La Habra, California. He left Chevron in 1988 to become the Charles T. McCord chaired professor at Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, where he taught for many years. In 2005, he and his wife returned to College Station, Texas where he held a position as adjunct professor with a bold plan to establish a Shale Studies Center at Texas A&M.

Arnold was the winner of LSU's 2003 Distinguished Research Master Award and a distinguished lecturer and leader for the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) and the Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM). His numerous awards include the Francis P. Shepard Award from the SEPM in 1982 and the Outstanding Education Award from the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies in 1992. In 2007 he was the recipient of the Sidney Powers Memorial Award, the AAPG's highest honor. And in 2010, Arnold received the Doris M. Curtis medal for scientific excellence.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00A.M., Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at Aria Memorial Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorials to be sent in honor of Arnold Bouma to the SEPM Foundation endowment fund (www.sepm.org) to help support future graduate studies. Please send family condolences and sign online register book at www.ariacremation.com

"There are still discoveries to be made, but it won't be the computer that tells us what it all means, for that, we always have to go back to the rock." AHB