Walter L. C. Trowbridge went peacefully home to be with his Heavenly Father Saturday night in the presence of family. He was a quiet man who loved his family and loved the Lord. L. C. “Pa” devoted himself to taking care of his family and always put others before himself. He was born June 27, 1923 in Brown County, the son of Elbert Earl Trowbridge and Steva Mae Washburn Trowbridge. He lived in Brownwood until about the age of seven when he and his family moved to San Saba County. He attended elementary school in Bowser and later high school in Richland Springs where he became a star football player. L. C. was working on a ranch at Indian Creek in Brown County when he met Irene Watkins whom he married on September 24, 1941. He was later drafted into the Army during W. W. II and served from July 5, 1944 until being honorably discharged on November 17, 1946. While serving in the U. S. Army, he was in occupational services in Japan serving as a Staff Sgt. of heavy weapons. Following his discharge, he lived in Brownwood and worked as a roughneck and driller in the oil fields across Central Texas. In 1957, he went to work for the San Angelo Fire Department. In 1981, he was involved in a terrible automobile accident which almost took his life, but with the help from doctors and the grace of God, he lived through the many injuries following three major surgeries within the next year. He retired from the Fire Department in 1982 following twenty-five years of service.
L. C. was preceded in death by his wife, Irene on August 17, 1996 as well as his parents Elbert Earl and Steva Mae Trowbridge, two brothers, Curtis A. and Joe D. Trowbridge. In 1997, he began dating Ila Ruth Ray, a family friend from past years and they were married September 15, 1997. They joined the Glen Meadows Baptist Church in 1997 where they attended regularly until the past few years when L. C. became homebound due to painful health problems.
L. C. loved to cook. His special request was always for his famous turkey and dressing at Thanksgiving and Christmas. He also loved to fish with his sons and grandsons. In later years, he and his wife Ruth joined an RV travel club and traveled across the country making new friends and sharing great times.
His is survived by his wife, Ruth Trowbridge of San Angelo, four children, Lonnie Trowbridge and wife Flora and grandchildren Tammi Reid, Clay Trowbridge and his wife Hanna, Tori Suggs and husband Thomas, son Benny Trowbridge and grandchildren Jason Trowbridge and wife Lisa, Lance Trowbridge and wife Michelle and Tara Trowbridge, daughter, Sherry Hamilton and husband Dick, and grandchildren Justin Minton and wife Elaine, Heather Minton, Asa Hamilton and wife Alison, Paige Keith and husband Kory, and son Rob Trowbridge and wife Laura and grandchildren Clint Trowbridge and wife Sarah, Amanda Morin and husband Steve, Kim Blann and husband Josh. Twenty-four great-grandchildren also survive.
Other survivors include two step-daughters, Susan Lynette Foley and husband Raymond and Ruth Denise Carson and husband David and their families all of Dallas, two brothers, Elbert “Bo” Trowbridge and R. D. Trowbridge, a sister, Dorothy May “Dot” Walden and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Thursday in the Johnson’s Funeral Home Chapel with a graveside service with military honors to follow at 3:00 pm in the Varga Chapel Cemetery near Bowser, Texas in San Saba County.
