Erwin Henry Voss

Erwin Voss passed from this life and met his Lord and Savior on Friday, January 27, 2017 in San Angelo, Texas. Erwin was born in Wingate, Texas July 29, 1919 to Edwin C. Voss and Emily B. Vogler. He went to school in Wingate and upon completion entered military service January 1939 at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.

He started out with the 12th Field Artillery. He was a horseman pulling caissons, cannons and all wheeled vehicles. While there he served as a military motorcycle patrolman. He transferred later into the U.S. Army Air Corps and then in the U.S. Air Force.

During WWII he served in Guam as a crew chief on a B-29 known as M-10 that made history for completing a record of successful missions over Japan for which he was awarded the Bronze Star medal. Also, he served in many other foreign countries such as Germany, Puerto Rico, France, Scotland and the state of Alaska. He retired from the air force in 1959 with 22 years of service. From there he began working for San Angelo Junior College in 1962 and later retired from Angelo State University in 1982.

While at the college, he worked in maintenance, and served as a security policeman, supply supervisor and locksmith. He retired from the college leaving behind so many friends that he had made there.

His favorite sports were hunting, fishing and traveling in his RV. He really enjoyed dancing which led him to meet the love of his life, Lena Roe, who he soon married on April 15, 1995. With Lena, he made many trips to Colorado as well as other campgrounds having been a member of the Road Runners camping group. Lena and he enjoyed dancing and fishing, going whenever and wherever they could. In Erwin’s own words Lena had been such a love of his life and there was no other husband that could have a more loving wife. He was thankful to the Lord for giving him such a good Christian lady who together they enjoyed attending Southland Baptist Church and the Friendship Sunday School class. They were often called a “couple of lovebirds”.

Erwin was a member of the 1260 Masonic Lodge in San Angelo and the 699 Masonic Lodge in Mertzon. He was also a 32nd Degree Mason having been involved in Masonry for 50 years. He was a life long member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars 1815 in San Angelo.

Erwin was preceded in death by his wife Lena, by his first wife Dollie Foster Voss, father Edwin C. Voss, mother Emily B. Voss, two brothers, Helmer Voss and Van Voss. He is survived by his son, Erwin Worth Voss and Debra. Two sisters, Bertha Donner of Ballinger, Texas and Lucille & husband Marvin Menzel of Shallowwater, Texas, and granddaughter Donna Sue and husband William Hudson. Also surviving are two stepdaughters Sheila and husband David Hooper, Shirley and husband Kenneth Powell, and a stepson David Roe and wife Mary, all of San Angelo and step grandchildren James Powell, Brooks and Lara Hooper, Stacey and Steve Flanary, Alisha Roe Spicknall, Debbie Barnes and 13 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren . He said, no greater love could a stepfather have when he met Lena and her family. All her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren showed him their love and called Erwin their ”PaPa Erwin”. He enjoyed his later life with so many good friends while living most of his last days at Rio Concho West Retirement Center.

There will be an open time of visitation for those wishing to pay respects and sign the guestbook at Johnson's Funeral Home on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 from 10:00am until 6:00pm. A celebration of Erwin’s life will be held on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at 10:00 am in Southland Baptist Church of San Angelo with internment at Bluff Creek Cemetery, north of Wingate, Texas. Erwin’s family would like to give a special thanks to Regency Nursing Home and Hospice of San Angelo for the loving care they gave Erwin in his last few days. The family requests that memorials are made to: Southland Baptist Church Friendship Sunday School Class of San Angelo, West Texas Boys Ranch of San Angelo or your favorite charity. Family and friends are encouraged to share memories, send condolences and sign the online register book at www.johnsons-funeralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson's Funeral Home of San Angelo.

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17