Clarence H. Bosse

Clarence Henry Bosse, age 91, passed away August 11, 2011. He was born on Labor Day, September 1, 1919, in San Antonio to Henry and Sabina (Braun) Bosse. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Marjorie, his twin sister, Clara Jurney, and his older sister, Agnes Blumberg. During his years at Brackenridge High School he delivered telegrams for Western Union, riding his bicycle all over San Antonio. On his 20th birthday in 1939 he vividly recalled that Germany invaded Poland and World War II began. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1941, became a staff sergeant, and was sent to Africa to be a company clerk with the 8th Transport Command. Travelling on the Aquitana, the trip across the Atlantic was dangerous and required following the coastline from New York south to Rio de Janeiro. At that point it became safer to proceed to Capetown, South Africa, completing a journey of 57 days. Once on the African continent his company traveled to Freetown, Acraw, Lagos, Maiduguri, and Khartoum. Clarence’s job included scheduling flight plans for the North Africa to India route. While on R&R he was able to visit Alexandria, Cairo, and the Pyramids of Egypt. After the war, he met Marjorie Puckett and married her on June 6, 1948 at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Clarence worked as a bookkeeper at Ingram Equipment Co and they settled in a home that was at the time outside the city limits, northwest of San Antonio, where they raised two daughters. They continued attending St. John’s Lutheran where Clarence had been baptized and confirmed, but the church wanted to start a new mission church in the growing northwest area of San Antonio. In 1957 the Bosse family became charter members of Hope Lutheran Church. They were very active in establishing the new church and Clarence held several positions including treasurer. Marjorie became the church secretary. Eventually Clarence found a job closer to home at Ray Ellison Industries and later worked at Huffaker Hardware. In his early 60s Clarence was diagnosed with a detached retina and macular degeneration. He could no longer see well enough for his bookkeeping duties and retired. Fortunately he was able to remain active and became a volunteer at Morningside Manor where his mother lived. He and Marjorie were then blessed with two granddaughters and they greatly enjoyed taking them to see the sites of San Antonio. Clarence enjoyed travelling and took his family to most of the western and southern states. He and Marjorie particularly loved Colorado where they honeymooned, but they also enjoyed an Alaskan cruise during retirement. He was also active in the Chordsmen and was Chordsman of the year in 1984. He instilled a love of music into his family. The family is sincerely thankful for his caregivers Carrie, Pat, Donna, and Colleen and for the wonderful services of Meals on Wheels. Charitable gifts may be made to Christian Senior Services. Clarence is survived by his two daughters, Kathy Gore Walters and husband Jeff, Joanne Melgosa and husband Steven and granddaughters Sabina Melgosa and Robin Melgosa. Visitation will be at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home on Bandera Rd on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. A funeral service will be conducted at 10:00 AM Wednesday August 17, 2011 at Hope Lutheran Church, 5714 Callaghan Rd with Rev. William Swantner officiating. Interment will follow at the Zion Lutheran Cemetary of Helotes