David Kenneth Lacker, 82, of Buda was born on Oct. 17, 1928 in Manor, Texas, and died on May 8, 2011 in Austin. His parents were James Leroy Lacker and Susan Elizabeth Gallatin Lacker. He was the fourth of five children. David graduated from Austin High School in 1947, then went to Parkland Hospital in Dallas to become an X-ray technician, doing his residency at Brackenridge Hospital. He completed a Bachelor of Science degree at Southwest Texas State Teacher’s College in 1957, and received a Master of Science in Radiological Health and Public Health Administration from Oklahoma University.
David accepted a job at the Texas State Health Dept., launching a career that culminated in his retirement in 1993 from concurrent positions as Director, Bureau of Radiation Control and Acting Associate Commissioner for Environmental and Consumer Health Protection. Later, he was called back to fill several positions including Acting Bureau Chief, Deputy Associate Commissioner, and Associate Commissioner between 1994 and 1996. In 1988, he received the Gerald S. Parker Award for outstanding leadership and contributions to the field of radiation protection from the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, the highest award bestowed by that organization.
David met Kathryn (Kay) Williams through friends at West Austin Baptist Church shortly after he graduated from Austin High School. She is the daughter of Jesse Williams and Iris Moore Williams, both from pioneer Burnet County families. They were married two years later on September 10, 1948. David and Kay were married for 62 and a half years.
Kay and Dave’s married life was centered around family, faith and church activities, and good hard work. They waited a long time for children, but their son Stephen Lacker arrived on February 3,1964. Their prayers for God’s choice for a daughter-in-law were answered when Steve met and married Ann Clancy in 1990. Dave always said that he would like to have a “little red-haired girl,” and she, too, entered his life in the form of his beloved daughter, Caitlin Rebecca Lacker, born on September 1, 1993.
Dave and Kay have always been very proud of their deep Texas lineage and their privilege of both having worked for Texas state government. They have passed this sense of pride in Texas, and pride in their families, to their son and his family as an important legacy.
Dave and Kay lived a quiet life on their small farm in Buda, enjoying activities and travel with their son and his family.
The diagnosis of cancer came as a shock to Dave, but in his usual manner he set about finding the best way to analyze the illness and bring the best possible resources to bear against it.
David is survived by his wife Kay, son Steve and wife Ann of Austin, granddaughter Caitlin, older brother, Curtis Lacker and wife Bonnie of Florida, and little sister Janie Wooldridge and husband Ted Wooldridge of The Woodlands, nieces and nephews, extended family members, co-workers, and friends.
Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, May 12, 2011 at Harrell Funeral Home, Austin. Burial will be at 2 p.m., DeWolfe - Dillingham Cemetery, Briggs, TX.
