Rosalie Hamilton Hierholzer Bourland

Born on the family farm in Wilson County, Texas, October 26, 1925, to Otto Julius Hierholzer and Nettie Pearl Blumberg Hierholzer, Rosalie was preceded in death by her parents and step-mother Gwendolyn Butler Hierholzer, and T.L. “Les” Bourland, MSgt USAF Ret, her husband of over 50 years. Mrs. Bourland is survived by her brothers, Ernest J. “E.J.” Hierholzer and Otto J. Hierholzer, Jr., and spouse Jo Carolyn, of Floresville; her son, Terry G. Bourland, and daughter Linda Bourland Keen and spouse Billy, of Schertz; step-grandchildren Brian W. Keen, El Paso, TX; Devin M. Keen and spouse Kerry, Golden, CO; grandchildren Travis Lee Bourland and spouse Melissa, San Antonio; and Dawn Janese Bourland, San Antonio; two great-grandchildren whom she adored: Kai Austin Rose and Ryan Lee Bourland; and several Hierholzer nephews and nieces.

Rosie offered service as a civilian employee at Randolph AFB for 26 years before retiring in 1989 to open the Converse General Store and Quilt Studio. In retirement, she learned to quilt from her mother-in-law Ethel H. Bourland, became an accomplished quilt maker and teacher, and was featured in the first edition of Great American Quilts, Oxmoor House, 1987. Delightfully outgoing, she had been an avid gardener, creative writer, paint & fabric artist, ladies softball first baseman, and world traveler who loved and served her community through a variety of quilt project fund raisers for the Converse Vol Fire Dept Ladies Auxiliary; creating historic quilted wall hangings for the City of Converse during the Texas State Sesquicentennial; and being active in Lions International and American Legion Post 593, Converse. One of Rosie’s more unusual quilted wall-hangings depicts the 1845 sea voyage of her ancestor from Germany and features the ship’s passenger manifest to Indianola, Texas. One of her paintings received an award from the San Antonio Art League and Museum; and her unique wedding dress, created from the silk parachute Les had been shot down in during World War II, was acquisitioned in 2004 by the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Rosalie graduated 1943 Salutatorian from Floresville High School. She was a member of the Schertz United Methodist Church from 1953.

The Family will receive visitors Tuesday, Oct 28, 6 until 8 PM, at Colonial Funeral Home. Interment will be on Wednesday, Oct 29, 9:30 AM, at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, followed by a Memorial Service at Schertz United Methodist Church at 11:00 AM, with the Rev. Linda Montgomery officiating. Memorials may be made to the Schertz United Methodist Church, 3460 Roy Richard Dr, Schertz, TX, 78154, or the charity of your choice.