Sylvan Polunsky

They lived in Menard where his father was in the wholesale and retail grocery business. In 1931 the family moved to San Angelo where his father continued in the wholesale and retail grocery business.

When a teenager he qualified for the U.S. Advanced Amateur Radio License (W5TGT), built a radio transmitter and communicated around the world in Morse code.

Attended the University of Texas in the Naval ROTC during World War II. In 1945 his class, in their seventh semester, were called up by the Navy, commissioned Ensigns and sent to the South Pacific. He was an officer aboard the Landing Craft Infantry Gunboat 68 and subsequently served as Supply, Communications, Gunnery, and Executive Officer.

They participated in the U.S. Seventh Fleet invasion of Brunei Bay, Borneo, and for three days followed minesweepers destroying the many Japanese mines in the harbor so Australian troops could land.

They had given General Douglas MacArthur a military base midway between Manila and Singapore, virtually choked off the South China Sea and opened new fields for Allied bombers. After two visits ashore, the General exulted: "Rarely was such a strategic prize obtained at such a low cost of lives."

They were then sent to Buckner Bay, Okinawa, to prepare for the invasion of Japan.

Ships as far as the eye could see were gathered. Two typhoons struck crippling and destroying many ships. Dropping of the atomic bomb ended all invasion preparation.

Returning home after the war he was given command of the Landing Craft (Flotilla Flagship) 792. He remained in the Naval Reserve 22-1/2 years before retiring as a Lt. Commander, USN.

In 1946 he became a private pilot, later purchasing a Cessna 172, replacing all the electronics for the latest available and qualified as an instrument rated private pilot.

After discharge from the Navy, he continued at the University of Texas and graduated in 1948 with degrees in Business and Naval Science and Tactics. He returned to San Angelo, joining his family’s supermarket business, Harry’s Food Store. Later, Syl, his brother Robert and son Mark expanded by starting the Quik Stop convenience stores. He was very active civically, serving on boards of Bank of the West, St. John’s Hospital, Board of City Development, and the San Angelo Symphony, playing first chair clarinet in the very first concert. He was President of Congregation Beth Israel for 33 years. Many years were spent with the Tom Green County Library Board as a member and chairman.

Preceded in death by his parents, he is married to Carol Jane Fox from San Antonio, and leaves behind two children, Peggy Jessel and husband Jack of Spring Branch and Mark and wife Judy Polunsky of San Angelo, four grandchildren, Philip Jessel of Detroit, Paige Newman and husband Russell of Austin, Austin and Ryan Polunsky, two great grandchildren, Bryce and Ivy Grace Newman of Austin, a brother Robert and wife Nancy, and sister in-laws and brother-in-laws Barbara and Dr. Arnold Barban and Carol and Philip Fox.

The family requests that any donations be sent to the charity of your choice.

Services will be private for family only.