HEINZ HENRY VOLZ

HEINZ ‘HENRY’ VOLZ Henry Volz, age 94 of Wharton passed away on Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 at the Wharton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center following a lengthy illness. He was born on November 2nd, 1917 in Odem, Texas a son of the late John and Bertha Kraft Volz, both of whom emigrated from Germany in 1913. Mr. Volz grew up on a farm outside of Robstown, Texas with his older sister Clara and younger brother Frank. He learned to speak English in a local one-room schoolhouse and graduated from Robstown High School in 1933. He served in the Texas National Guard from 1934-37 and with the Civilian Conservation Corps during much of this period. He enlisted in the Navy and served aboard the battleship USS West Virginia from August 1937-May 1941 where he was active in the sports of wrestling, rowing and weight lifting. Henry enlisted in the Army in March 1942 and married Louise Richards in Corpus Christi on February 18, 1943. He served in the infantry in the ranks of private through major, ultimately retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer, W-4 in August 1958. His assignments were in a variety of locations including Ft. Benning, GA, Germany, Philadelphia, PA, Camp Perry, VA, and Korea. Much of his army service was as an instructor of infantry tactics, ROTC and as a light weapons instructor training members of the CIA. During his army service he earned BA and MA degrees in history from the College of William and Mary. Following his army retirement he taught for a year in the Sweeny schools and then moved to Wharton in 1959 where he joined the faculty of Wharton County Junior College. Henry taught social science classes and held administrative positions until his retirement in 1983. He was within 3 credit hours of completing his PhD degree at the University of Houston. His hobbies included exercise, foreign travel and investing. He journeyed to most of the world’s continents and earned a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Ethiopia during 1964. In addition to his parents, his brother and sister preceded him in death. Survivors include his wife Louise Volz of Wharton and sons John Volz and wife Candace of Austin and Robert Volz and wife Polly of Gretna, NE. His grandchildren are Warren Volz, Steven Volz and his wife Becca, Megan Volz, Emery Volz and Evelyn Volz. His great grandchildren are Eli and Violet Volz. Nephews include Dr. Roger Gose and his wife Barbara and Frank Gose and his wife Sandra. Funeral services were held at the Chapel of the Wharton Funeral Home at 2:00 pm on Thursday, April 26th, with Dr. Donnie Melton officiating. Burial followed in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery in Wharton. Pallbearers were John and Robert Volz, Doug and Dr. Michael Soderstrom, Gary Ward and Jim Carolan. Honorary pallbearers were ‘Doc’ Barfield, Alex Mayfield, Garland Novosad and Timmy Barker. Memorials may be donated in care of the Alzheimer’s Foundation or Wounded Warrior Project. The Volz family’s appreciation is extended to our friends in Wharton, to the Generations staff of the Wharton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and to the Houston Hospice staff for their support and friendship during Henry’s last months.