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Paul Bailey Rothband passed away peacefully at his home in Harper, Texas, on November 22, 2022, surrounded by his family and friends. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 77 years, Mary McCrae Anderson Rothband.
He was born in Kansas City, Missouri on August 27, 1922 to Pauline and Wolff Rothband. He graduated from Southwest High School in 1939 in Kansas City, then attended Kemper Military School in Booneville, Missouri for two years, completing an Associate of Arts Degree in 1941. While attending Kemper, he was honored as a member of the Junior College Junior Class, a member of the Scholastic Honor Society, a member of the Varsity Track Team and Lettered in Company Tennis.
He then earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering at the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in Rolla, Missouri, in August of 1943. At MSM, he was a member of the Alpha Chi Sigma and Lambda Chi Alpha fraternities. In 1986, he and Mary became members of the Order of the Golden Shillelagh at MSM (now known as the Missouri University of Science and Technology) and in 1996, Paul was inducted into the Academy of Chemical Engineering there.
Paul met his wife, Mary, while he completed his senior year at college, and they married on February 27, 1943, at Christ Episcopal Church in Rolla, Missouri. This was the same church where Mary’s parents, Mary Imogene McCrae and H.G.S. Anderson, of Rolla, had also been married.
Paul began his lifelong career with Alcoa in E. St. Louis, Illinois in August of 1943. His career was interrupted in the spring of 1944 when he was inducted into the United States Navy. He served on the destroyer, the USS Harwood, as a “Fighter Director.” When the war ended in September of 1945, Paul was honorably discharged with the rank of Lt. (j.g.) in June of 1946 and resumed his position at Alcoa where he worked until being transferred to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1957-1959.
In July of 1959, Paul and his family made their final move with Alcoa to Port Lavaca, Texas, where Paul and Mary raised their son and daughter and he became Staff Buyer at Alcoa at the Point Comfort Operations and stayed in this position until he retired in 1983, after almost 40 years of dedicated service.
The Rothbands were members of Grace Episcopal Church in Port Lavaca, Texas, and later members of Trinity Episcopal Church in Victoria, Texas. He was very proud of his time served as a lay reader and being a member of the Vestry at the various churches where he served.
After retirement, Paul and Mary made their last home in Harper, Texas where they lived for 40 years. He was involved with the Lion’s Club, The Harper Pioneer Museum and also volunteered at the VA Hospital in Kerrville and delivered Meals-on-Wheels in Harper. He and Mary were members of St. Michael and All Angels Anglican Church in Kerrville.
When Mary’s health began to fail in 2017, they both moved into the Villages of Windcrest where Paul could be with his beloved Mary. After she passed away in January of 2021, he wanted to come home to Harper, where he and Mary had lived longer than anywhere else.
In his final months, he was lovingly cared for by the wonderful staff at HCM Hospice. Special gratitude is expressed to all of those who were there at his home for him, and especially to the HCM Hospice Chaplain Richard Vanderventin, who faithfully visited with Paul, (patiently listening to the same stories each time!) prayed for him and with him, and gave him much pastoral comfort in the last weeks of his life. For these kind gestures, the family will always be grateful.
Paul was a devoted, loving and generous soul to Mary, his children and grandchildren, and to all who knew and loved him.
He is survived by a son, Paul Rothband of San Angelo, Texas; daughter, Sarah McCrae Rosanky, and granddaughters, Juliette Rothband Rosanky and Stephanie Lynn Summerlin, Mrs. Charlcie Lord Woodruff and her husband Ray, of Riesel, Texas, as well as great-grandsons, Klynt Mynar and his wife, Katelyn, and Logan Mynar also of Riesel. Paul was fortunate to meet his great-great-granddaughter, Lakeynn Mynar who was born on April 6, 2022 and Lakeynn’s mother, Kali, the week before he died.
Paul always wanted to “match” his dear wife, Mary’s, 100th birthday which she reached on January 7, 2021, before her death that year on January 17. He did, and on August 27, 2022 had a final birthday party in Harper, Texas. Exactly 100 guests were in attendance, and he was able to say what would be for many, his last goodbyes, to many family members and friends. This was a bittersweet yet joyous occasion.
The family will hold a private graveside service at the Harper Community Cemetery on Saturday, February 25, officiated by the Reverend Canon Benjamin Holland of St. Chad’s Anglican Church of San Antonio.
For those who so desire, memorial contributions can be directed to Hill Country Memorial Hospice, Fredericksburg, Texas.
He was born in Kansas City, Missouri on August 27, 1922 to Pauline and Wolff Rothband. He graduated from Southwest High School in 1939 in Kansas City, then attended Kemper Military School in Booneville, Missouri for two years, completing an Associate of Arts Degree in 1941. While attending Kemper, he was honored as a member of the Junior College Junior Class, a member of the Scholastic Honor Society, a member of the Varsity Track Team and Lettered in Company Tennis.
He then earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering at the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in Rolla, Missouri, in August of 1943. At MSM, he was a member of the Alpha Chi Sigma and Lambda Chi Alpha fraternities. In 1986, he and Mary became members of the Order of the Golden Shillelagh at MSM (now known as the Missouri University of Science and Technology) and in 1996, Paul was inducted into the Academy of Chemical Engineering there.
Paul met his wife, Mary, while he completed his senior year at college, and they married on February 27, 1943, at Christ Episcopal Church in Rolla, Missouri. This was the same church where Mary’s parents, Mary Imogene McCrae and H.G.S. Anderson, of Rolla, had also been married.
Paul began his lifelong career with Alcoa in E. St. Louis, Illinois in August of 1943. His career was interrupted in the spring of 1944 when he was inducted into the United States Navy. He served on the destroyer, the USS Harwood, as a “Fighter Director.” When the war ended in September of 1945, Paul was honorably discharged with the rank of Lt. (j.g.) in June of 1946 and resumed his position at Alcoa where he worked until being transferred to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1957-1959.
In July of 1959, Paul and his family made their final move with Alcoa to Port Lavaca, Texas, where Paul and Mary raised their son and daughter and he became Staff Buyer at Alcoa at the Point Comfort Operations and stayed in this position until he retired in 1983, after almost 40 years of dedicated service.
The Rothbands were members of Grace Episcopal Church in Port Lavaca, Texas, and later members of Trinity Episcopal Church in Victoria, Texas. He was very proud of his time served as a lay reader and being a member of the Vestry at the various churches where he served.
After retirement, Paul and Mary made their last home in Harper, Texas where they lived for 40 years. He was involved with the Lion’s Club, The Harper Pioneer Museum and also volunteered at the VA Hospital in Kerrville and delivered Meals-on-Wheels in Harper. He and Mary were members of St. Michael and All Angels Anglican Church in Kerrville.
When Mary’s health began to fail in 2017, they both moved into the Villages of Windcrest where Paul could be with his beloved Mary. After she passed away in January of 2021, he wanted to come home to Harper, where he and Mary had lived longer than anywhere else.
In his final months, he was lovingly cared for by the wonderful staff at HCM Hospice. Special gratitude is expressed to all of those who were there at his home for him, and especially to the HCM Hospice Chaplain Richard Vanderventin, who faithfully visited with Paul, (patiently listening to the same stories each time!) prayed for him and with him, and gave him much pastoral comfort in the last weeks of his life. For these kind gestures, the family will always be grateful.
Paul was a devoted, loving and generous soul to Mary, his children and grandchildren, and to all who knew and loved him.
He is survived by a son, Paul Rothband of San Angelo, Texas; daughter, Sarah McCrae Rosanky, and granddaughters, Juliette Rothband Rosanky and Stephanie Lynn Summerlin, Mrs. Charlcie Lord Woodruff and her husband Ray, of Riesel, Texas, as well as great-grandsons, Klynt Mynar and his wife, Katelyn, and Logan Mynar also of Riesel. Paul was fortunate to meet his great-great-granddaughter, Lakeynn Mynar who was born on April 6, 2022 and Lakeynn’s mother, Kali, the week before he died.
Paul always wanted to “match” his dear wife, Mary’s, 100th birthday which she reached on January 7, 2021, before her death that year on January 17. He did, and on August 27, 2022 had a final birthday party in Harper, Texas. Exactly 100 guests were in attendance, and he was able to say what would be for many, his last goodbyes, to many family members and friends. This was a bittersweet yet joyous occasion.
The family will hold a private graveside service at the Harper Community Cemetery on Saturday, February 25, officiated by the Reverend Canon Benjamin Holland of St. Chad’s Anglican Church of San Antonio.
For those who so desire, memorial contributions can be directed to Hill Country Memorial Hospice, Fredericksburg, Texas.