William John Brod

John Brod, age 86, of Boling, passed away Thursday, June 23, 2016 in Bay City. He was born on May 19, 1930 in Wharton, Texas, a son of the late Leander and Lucy Davis Brod. John was raised in the East Bernard, Boling and Ashwood areas. He joined the United States Navy after finishing his education thru 6th grade in the Boling Schools,getting his GED while in the Navy. He earned his first Honorable Discharge in 1954 then joined the Air Force Reserves. After returning home to work in Newgulf at Texasgulf, and then for Wharton Police Department, he re-enlisted with the Navy, with duty stations in Florida, Massachusetts, Virginia, Guam, Japan, Maine and Spain. He retired after serving a combined 23 years. He proudly served on the USS Juneau, the USS Eugene A.Greene and the USS Antietam. John and his wife, Betty Jean Howell, whom he married on May 20, 1952, returned to the Boling area where John was a cattle rancher and custom hay baler. He enjoyed fishing as much as possible, hunting when he had a chance and playing golf at Newgulf Golf Course just about every morning it wasn’t raining. John was also active in the American Legion and was a Master Mason. In addition to his parents and wife, John is preceded in death by his sisters, Tina Brown, May Price and brother, Andy Brod, and grandchildren, Michele Jean Shultz and William Jacob Brod . Visitation was held on Tuesday evening, June 28 from 5 till 7 pm at Wharton Funeral Home with funeral services held at 10 am on Wednesday, June 29 at the chapel of Wharton Funeral Home with Rev. Ollie Southall and Rev. Dan Fritch officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery in Wharton under the auspices of the Wharton American Legion and VFW. Serving as pallbearers are William Ray Brod, John Joseph Brod, Shane Brian Shultz, Jon Miller, Tony Kitzmiller and Roger Anderson. Honorary pallbearers are Devoy Shaw, Wayne Guess and Billy Wayne Tabor. John Brod is survived by his daughter, Stephanie Jean Kucera and husband, Jerry of Wharton and sons, William Counce Brod and wife, Vicki of Boling and Dr. John Robert Brod and wife, Teresa of Indiana, grandchildren, John Joseph Brod, Mary-Ann Marie Miller and husband, Jon, William Ray Brod and wife, Emily, April Denise Macakanja and husband, Mike, and Shane Brian Shultz and great grandchildren, Shawn Brod, Nathan Brod, Mikayla Miller, Isaac Miller, Kayleigh Macakanja and Kesley Brod. Memorial Contributions can be made to the Iago Federated Church Outreach Program, the American Cancer Society or Alzheimer’s Association. Funeral services are under the direction of the Wharton Funeral Home. Condolences may be left at www.whartonfuneralhome.com.