Col. John B. Girvan USA (Ret)

US Army Colonel (Ret.) John B. Girvan departed this world, surrounded by his loving family, on October 03, 2013. He joins his parents John and Elizabeth Girvan, stepmother Molly Girvan, and sisters Mary Girvan and Grace Gargan in the Kingdom of Heaven. He is survived by his wife Audrey E. (Green) Girvan, their four children and their spouses, eight grandchildren, his brother James J. Girvan and wife Rene, and sister Francis Drost and son, David.

John was born in Queens, New York on April 9th, 1933 and raised in Kings Park where he met and married his high school sweetheart Audrey E. Green in 1956. Together they raised four children; Carol Ann (Girvan) Townsend, Deborah L. (Girvan) Williams, John W. Girvan, and Gregg A. Girvan. He cherished his family, including sons-in-law Richard K. Townsend and Terry A. Williams, and his daughter in-law Tracy (Grassi) Girvan. He deeply loved and was so proud of his grandchildren; Corey Townsend, Jordon Williams, Elizabeth Girvan, Megan Girvan, Taylor Townsend, Austin Williams, Andrew Townsend, and Brian Girvan.

Colonel Girvan completed a 30 year distinguished career in the Army Nurse Corps. He served as the Chief Nurse at Darnell Army Hospital before assuming his final duty assignment as the Chief Nurse of Health Services Command while concurrently serving as consultant to the Surgeon General. He was awarded many commendations, including the Officer’s Advance Course Honor Graduate, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service at the 8th Field Hospital in Nha Trang, Vietnam.

The family is forever grateful to the caregivers from Odyssey Hospice and the volunteers from Our Lady of Perpetual Health Catholic Church for the tremendous aid, comfort and spiritual healing given to our parents during his final year on Earth. May God bless you all.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at Sunset Funeral Home Chapel from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 10, 2013 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 16075 Evans Rd. Selma, TX 78154. Interment will follow at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery with a reception to follow at the Fort Sam Houston Golf Club.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Fort Sam Houston Medical Museum or the American Cancer Society.