William P. Rovira

William P. "Duke" Rovira, loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away May 15, 2012, at the age of 96 in San Antonio, Texas. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on October 17th, 1915. During his long life he also resided in: Atlanta, Georgia; Sebring, Florida; Ft Worth, Texas; Austin, Texas; and San Antonio, Texas.

As a young man, Bill, who was known as "Duke" to his siblings, once felt called to the priesthood, and attended seminary at St Vincent's Academy in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. After several years study there, though, he realized that was not his life's work. Although he opted out of the priesthood, he remained a practicing Catholic for the rest of his life, including many years of volunteer charitable service through the St Vincent de Paul Society, and as PTA President at both St Ignatius elementary school, and, later, at St Edwards High School.

In 1934, he joined the Marine Corps, and was ultimately assigned to the now famous "China Marines" contingent guarding the American Legation in Beijing. In spite of the pre-WWII tensions that existed between China and Japan at that time, and the internal fighting that was "The Boxer Rebellion", he managed to see enough of China to stir a fascination in foreign cultures that remained with him for the rest of his life.

Duke was honorably discharged from the Marines in 1938. In 1942, with the US now embroiled in World War II, he was drafted into the Army. Shortly thereafter, his unit was deployed to England in the build-up to D-Day.

It was in London that he met Eileen Deeble on a blind double date. Both were immediately smitten. He proposed to her after their second date, asking if she would join him in the US after the war ended. She accepted. Their pledge was put to the test after only a few weeks. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant, sent back to the US to attend Officer Candidate School, and then was deployed to Italy in the combat infantry. It would be three years that the two would be separated, but their relationship grew stronger yet as they regularly corresponded through the mail.

The fighting in Italy was bloody, but victorious. In spite of sustaining wounds (for which he was awarded the Purple Heart) from a grenade, he served in Italy for the entire campaign until it came to an end in May of 1945. At that time, his unit received orders to re-deploy to Japan. Thankfully, with the bombing of Nagasaki, Japan surrendered before that order was executed. Instead, he boarded a troop ship for home, and wrote the long-awaited letter summoning Eileen. She crossed the Atlantic on a freighter, and the two were married in New Orleans on May 9th, 1946.

After the war Bill enjoyed a long career as a civil servant with the US department of Agriculture. He always found time to participate in the various activities of his six children, and contributed many volunteer hours to a wide range of organizations. With Eileen, he was actively involved in local Austin politics from the grassroots level. Through their efforts, in concert with local neighborhood organizations, they labored to protect their area of South Austin from rampant development.

In his long retirement, Bill kept himself busy as an election judge, as a neighborhood advocate, as a gardener for the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, in travels throughout the US to visit children and grandchildren, and travels abroad to visit extended family. He continued to read and learn, and actively followed his investments. But most of all, he liked to tend his garden and enjoy time with the love of his life, Eileen. The two celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary just one week before his death.

Bill is survived by wife, Eileen Rovira; children: Bill Rovira and wife, Mariela; Stan Rovira and wife, Mary; Mike Rovira and wife, Dana; Susan Rovira Gallia and husband, Leo; Dan Rovira and wife, Kristina; Janice Rovira Ratka and husband, Jeff; Sherry Timmins and husband, Jack; grandchildren: Ian, Yvette, Laura, Stan, Jr., Mike, Brian, Leanne, Chris, Brent, Rachael, Danielle, Amy, Megan, Erin, James, Ryan, Daniel, and Elizabeth; great-grandchildren: Colton, Callie, Andrew, and Adam; and numerous nieces and nephews in the United States, England and Australia.

The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Friday, May 18, 2012, at Porter Loring Mortuary North.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions are given to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, c/o St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church, 2303 Euclid, Austin, TX 78704.

ROSARY

FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

6:30 P.M.

PORTER LORING NORTH CHAPEL

GRAVESIDE SERVICE

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012

2:30 P.M.

FORT SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

1520 HARRY WURZBACH

MEMORIAL MASS

MONDAY, MAY 28, 2012

9:30 A.M.

ST. ANTHONY'S CHAPEL AT

VILLA DE SAN ANTONIO

8103 N. HOLLOW