William J. Valigura

William J. Valigura, age 82, passed away June 21, 2006 in Scott and White Hospital. He was born in Temple, Texas to Anna Rose Plasek and William J. Valigura, Sr. He married Nellie Ross Lancaster of Oenaville, Texas on March 21, 1947. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 23, 2006 at 11:00 AM at First Baptist Church of Temple with Reverend Martin Knox and Reverend Theiss Jones officiating. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery with full military honors. Mr. Valigura graduated from Temple High School in 1941. After serving in World War II, he attended Baylor University where he received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Education and Sociology. He returned to Temple, Texas to teach American History and Social Studies at Temple High School from 1950 until 1954. Mr. Valigura also served as assistant principal at Reagan Elementary and director of visual education for Temple ISD from 1955 until 1956; assistant principal at Temple High School from 1956 until 1959; principal of Temple High School from 1959 until 1964; assistant superintendent for Temple ISD from 1964 until 1978; and superintendent of Temple ISD from 1979 until 1984. He was a lifetime member of the Baylor Alumni Association, a member of the Baylor Bear Foundation and Phi Delta Kappa. He was a lifetime member of the Texas Association of School Administrators, and Texas Retired Teachers Association. Mr. Valigura was a member of First Baptist Church of Temple and served as teacher of the Fisher Class for twelve years. He was recently a member of the First Baptist Daily Living Class. Mr. Valigura went directly from high school as an 18-year old to serve in the United States Army Air Force. He was a member of the 8th Air Force, 452nd Bomb Group, 31st Squadron. He was a ball turret gunner and was shot down over Germany in 1944. He was a prisoner of war for 13 months and received the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Prisoner of War Medal, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Euro-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. He also received the Presidential Group Citation. It was with great honor that Mr. Valigura served his country. Mr. Valigura was preceded in death by his parents, his brother George, his sister Charlotte, and a nephew, George (Mickey) Hoover. He is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, a daughter, Nancy Kay Roush and husband Bill of Austin, a son, William Ross Valigura and wife Sheila of Lubbock, grandchildren, Preston Roush of Waco, Patrick and Philip Roush of Austin, Brian Ross and Amanda Kay Valigura of Lubbock, Amy McCarthy and husband Aaron of Lubbock, Cody Ables of Odessa, and great-grandchild, Madison McCarthy. Three nieces also survive him, Shannon Hoover of Austin, Dr. Shelly Hoover Neilson of South Dakota, and Carolyn Zimmerman and husband Jim of Bermuda Dunes, California. A nephew Paul Zinn of Cathedral City, California and a great-nephew Jasan Zimmerman of Palo Alto, California also survive him. Honoring Mr. Valigura as pallbearers will be Preston, Patrick, and Philip Roush, Brian Ross Valigura, Jasan Zimmerman, and Warren Sunbury. Honorary pallbearers include Ace Alsup, Platt Turner, Dr. Tom Rowan, Dr. John Bonnet, Dr. Warren Alexander, John Sammons, Dick Epperson, Ben Yoshinaga, Mac Burrough, Paul Kerr, Charlie Altimore, Jerry Gibson, Bert Pope, Jim Clark, Jack Morris, Bob McQueen, Al Purifoy, Dr. Edwin Terry, Sam Loftis, Wilburn Rowden, Dr. John Hancock, Dr. Bob Denton, Scott Brookshire, Jim Kirby, Gary Hudgins, and Bobby Bulls. He was a man of integrity and deep faith, with undying love for God, family, and friends. He had a passion for life and knowledge and was a true American patriot and hero. Memorials may be made to Temple Education Foundation in care of Jerry Tyroch, P. O. Box 160, Temple, Texas 76503 or a charity of choice.