Alex Robert Von Gonten

Alex Robert Von Gonten, 99, a senior member of America’s Greatest Generation, a long-time San Angelo, Texas, resident, and since 2008, a San Antonio, Texas, resident, passed away Sunday, December 4, 2016 quietly at his Brookdale Assisted Living home in San Antonio following a courageous battle with heart disease. He was well known and loved for his hard work and exceptional care for family and others; you felt warmth, strength and sincerity in his presence. He was a real gentleman. All enjoyed his cheery “mighty fine” salutation.

Born November 8, 1917 to Fritz Von Gonten, Jr. and Mary Johanna Stork near Rockdale, Texas, Mr. Von Gonten was baptized on December 30, 1917 at the Bushdale community Peace Lutheran Church. He lived and worked on the family farm for the next 25 years until the attack on Pearl Harbor when, on February 7, 1942, he answered his country’s call to service at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. Trained at Camp Wolters and Camp Bowie, Texas, he served as a combat infantryman for nearly 3 years in the European theater. Campaigns included Normandy, Central Europe, and the Rhineland.

Following the war, he lived and worked in Pasadena, Texas, at Champion Paper Mill and Marble Falls, Texas, building the Max Starcke Dam on the Colorado River. It was there that he met Ruby “Bea” Lewis, a restaurant owner in Marble Falls. Following their 1950 marriage in Marble Falls, the couple moved to San Angelo. For over fifty years, Mr. Von Gonten worked as a San Angelo area carpenter, roofer, and home builder. He was an active member of San Angelo Christ Lutheran Church, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Fort Concho Post 1815, and the American Legion Post 32.

Mr. Von Gonten was preceded in death in 2008 by his wife of 58 years, Ruby “Bea” Lewis Von Gonten; two sisters: Erna Ida Meeck of Palestine and Edna Lydia Von Rosenberg of Cameron, Texas; and three brothers: Alfred Fritz Von Gonten of Rockdale, Eddie Henry Rudolph Von Gonten of San Angelo, and Roy Lee Von Gonten of Rockdale. Survivors include a daughter, Ann Sue Von Gonten, and her husband, Stephen L. Metzger, of San Antonio, seven nieces and seven nephews.

A time of visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 7, 2016 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Johnson’s Funeral Home, 435 West Beauregard Avenue, San Angelo. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am in the Johnson’s Funeral Chapel on Thursday, December 8, 2016 with the Reverend Celia Ellery of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the charity of your choice or the Salvation Army. Family and friends are encouraged to share memories and sign the online guestbook at www.johnsons-funeralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson’s Funeral Home of San Angelo.