Thomas Popelka Jr

Thomas (Tom) Popelka, Jr. left to be with His Lord on August 15 at Scott and White Hospital in Temple. He was born April 7, 1919 to Thomas Popelka Sr. and Frances Stanek Popelka at Cyclone in East Bell County and he was a life-long resident of Bell County. He attended Little Flock School before moving to Temple where he attended Bentley Hill Elementary School and Central Jr. High School. He started working for Bluebonnet Produce which took him traveling over a big part of the State of Texas as well as working in Temple. One August 15, 1939, he married the former Alice Ruth Estill of Belton at the Czech Moravian Brethren Church in Temple by the Rev. Josef Hegar. He passed away on their 69th wedding anniversary. In 1944, he started his own paperhanging and paint contracting business which became a great success. Customers waited months for his services due to his expert craftsmanship, fair prices and product knowledge. Repeat customers kept calling for his services long after he retired from this business. This business brought him much joy as he enjoyed people and interacting with them. He learned this craft from his father who studied as an apprentice in Czechoslovakia at the finest building and woodworking schools. The legacy of paint contracting continues with his son, Billy. After he retired from the contracting business, he began a furniture refinishing business along with buying, refinishing and selling antique furniture. Customers came from all over the Central Texas area because of his expert craftsmanship, his knowledge of wood and stains and his fair prices. All his life he was known as a hard worker. Work was a hobby as he worked after work. Earlier in his life, he was an avid fisherman and hunter. He enjoyed collecting coins all of his adult life. "Antiquing" became a pursuit which he did every month with some trips each month across the State. He was confirmed in the Czech Moravian Church in Temple and was a member of the Temple Brethren Church. He was preceded in death by his wife Alice of 61 years, two sisters Olga Sefcik and Ella McCutcheon and two brothers Frank and Martin Popelka. He is survived by son Thomas III and wife Lynda of Temple; daughter Norma Mares and husband Dabn of Belton; daughter Frances Urbanovsky and husband Leonard of Houston; son Robert and wife Deborah of Flower Mound; son Billy and wife Corinne of Temple; daughter Cynthia Messer and husband Thomas of Coppell. He is also survived by 4 granddaughters, Dabna Cauthen of Belton, Ashley Popelka , of Lewisville; and Amy Christenson of Allen and Mindy Rives of Coppell and 10 grandsons Thomas Popelka IV of Troy, Drew Popelka and Denton Popelka of Temple, Daniel Mares of Dallas, Robert Popelka and Jared Popelka of Dallas; Lyn Urbanovksy of Tomball; Jimmy Popelka of Lewisville; Will Messer and Preston Messer of Coppell. He is also survived by 20 great grandchildren. He is survived by numerous nieces and nephews and a host of friends all across Bell County. Viewing will be 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Sunday at Scanio Harper. Services will be at 10:00 A.M. Monday at Scanio Harper conducted by son Rev. Tom Popelka, III and asisted by grandson Rev. Denton Popelka. Pallbearers will be all of his grandsons. Memorial gifts may be made to Tom Popelka Ministries, P.O. Box 3130, Temple, Texas 76505-3130.