Corpus Christi, TX- Claude Leslie Van Meter, 92, a prominent land owner and citrus grower of the Rice tract near San Benito, TX since the early 1940s, went home to be with the Lord Tuesday, March 31, 2009. Claude was born June 8, 1916 in Guelph, Dickey County, N. Dakota to Rosie Marie and Herbert C. Van Meter. He is preceded in death by his wife of fifty years, Helen Millicent Lapell Haskell Van Meter; his son, Claude Lester Van Meter; his parents, Rose Marie and Herbert C. Van Meter; 2 brothers, Floyd Cameron Van Meter and Robert Burnley Van Meter; and his sister, Virginia Vivian Rush. Claude is survived by his stepchildren, Millicent F. (Dean) Walden of Richardson, TX; and Willard N. (Juanelle) Haskell of Corpus Christi, TX; 6 step grandchildren, Rebecca M. Quiocho, Jay L. Bowden, Janet A. Gordon, LaDonna P. Taylor, Cynthia A. Gillis, Patricia D. Huntley; 22 step great-grandchildren and 14 step great-great -grandchildren. Claude grew up on a farm in Guelph, N.D. In 1926 the farm house and out-buildings burned down. His grandmother decided to leave the cold and hardships of the North Country went on a Texas land drive and found a place to settle in South Texas, and in 1930, after auctioning their property and all remaining possessions, the family bought a 1926 Chrysler sedan and the 6 family members, grandmother and the dog drove to Los Fresnos, TX. In 1935 Claude went to work for the San Roman Nursery in Los Fresnos, a caretaker for citrus orchards. In 1937 he operated the second RD4 Diesel Caterpillar tractor manufactured by the Caterpillar Tractor Company of Peoria, IL, building irrigation ditches in citrus orchards. The first manufactured diesel tractor was kept by the Catepillar Tractor Company as a museum piece. It was at Claude's suggestion that the Tractor Company later added a bumper on the front of the tractor to facilitate maneuvering in the orchards without damaging trees. In 1944 Claude and Helen bought and homesteaded on Rice Tract property which included orange groves, and in 1948 he worked for the Sams-Porter Company, owned by Earl C. Sams, Chairman of the Board of J.C. Penney and his son-in-law, Dean Porter, mayor of Brownsville, who owned 1500 acres of land, 500 of which were in citrus groves in nearby Russelltown. The 1951 freeze knocked out the trees and the land all went to farming. Not wanting to farm, Claude acquired additional Rice Tract land and citrus groves and commenced his own citrus production. He managed the San Benito Water District # 16 for 20 years. A 32nd Degree Mason, he was a Past Master and fifty year Life Member of the San Benito Masonic Lodge #1064 A.F. & A.M., Alzafar Temple, member of the Rio Grande Valley Shrine Club, fifty year (Blue Cap) member of Scottish Rite of Free Masonary S.J. USA of San Antonio, fifty year member of The Red Cross of Constantine in San Antonio (later Corpus Christi) a member of York Rite Chapter No. 366, fifty year member Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas, Sir Knight, Corpus Christi Commandery No. 57. He received the Grand Lodge of Texas Fifty Year Award in September 1994 and in 1998 the 50 year pin in Corpus Christi Commanery A.A.O.N.M.S. of San Antonio. He was a Past Patron and fifty year member Order of the Eastern Star, fifty year member San Benito Elk Lodge No. 1661, and a member of the First United Methodist Church in San Benito. Chapel Service will be held Saturday, April 4, 2009 at 10:00 A.M. at Thomae-Garza Funeral Home with Rev. Danny Longoria officiating. Interment will follow to Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito. Graveside service will be conducted by Masonic Lodge No. 1132 of Harlingen, TX. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, 2222 Welborn St., Dallas, TX 75219 or a charity of choice. Words of comfort may be sent to the family of Claude L. Van Meter at www.thomaegarza.com Funeral arrangements have been entrusted under the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, (956) 399-1331.