Paul Thomas Hlavinka

Paul Thomas Hlavinka, 73, of Wharton, passed away suddenly on April 28, 2023, at St. Luke’s Houston hospital.  He was born on March 19, 1950, in East Bernard, Texas to the late William Joseph and Mary Jo Novosad Hlavinka.  

Paul was raised in East Bernard and graduated from East Bernard High School in 1968. He received his bachelor’s degree from Rice University, a master’s in journalism from University of Texas, and his Jurisprudence Doctorate from the University of Texas. Paul also served our country proudly in the United States Air Force Reserves. A lawyer all his life, Paul worked in the Houston area for many years, before relocating to the Wharton area. He loved Rice University Athletics, traveling, and tasting the local wine selections of the Czech Republic area. He spoke German and Czech and loved to converse with anybody he met. Paul was a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Wharton and the American Legion Post 226 in East Bernard.

He is survived by his fiancée, Phylis Stepp of Houston, brothers, Chris Hlavinka and husband, Chuck Fuhs, Timothy Hlavinka, Steven Hlavinka, Tobias Hlavinka and wife, Tammy, daughter Megan Melius, stepdaughter, Meredith Rose and husband Marc, and grandchildren, Jackson, Eloise and George.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 4, 2023 from 5 pm until 7pm at Wharton Funeral Home. The Funeral service will be at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Wharton at 11 am., Friday, May 5, 2023. Serving as pallbearers will be Matthew Hlavinka, Byron Hlavinka, James Johnson, Nathan Hlavinka, Andrew Hlavinka, Kevin Erben, and Marc Rose. Honorary pallbearers include Paul’s classmates from Rice University 1968 – 1972.

In lieu of flowers, send memorials to: Rice University Department of Athletics and St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Wharton, Texas, c/o Book of Remembrance. Condolences can be left at whartonfuneralhome.com