Charles Joseph (C.J.) Strnadel, Jr. of Inez, passed away on, Friday, Sept. 25, 2015 at the age of 93. C.J. was born on Dec. 3, 1921 in the Plainview Community south of Hillje. He was the eldest of four children born to Charles J. Strnadel, Sr. and Lucille Huvar Strnadel.
He attended school at the Plainview School for the first nine grades and then attended the 10th and 11th grade in El Campo. He graduated from high school in May, 1940. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Texas in Austin. He joined the Army Air Corps in July, 1942, in the listed reserves and continued to attend college until February, 1943, when he was called to active duty. He was sent to Miami, Florida for basic training. After basic training, he was sent to Denver, Colorado to Armament School for three months. After Armament School he was sent to a new B-24 training base in Mountain Home, Idaho. After a year, he was sent to another B-24 training base in Tonopah, Nev. In 1945 he was sent to gunnery school in Las Vegas, Nev., for training as a gunner on the new B-29’s which were being placed into service. After gunnery school, he was assigned as a B-29 right waist gunner with a crew of eleven and sent to Alamogordo, New Mexico, for training.
While getting ready for a flight early one morning in July, 1945, he saw the flash of the first atomic bomb being tested some 90 miles away at the White Sands Proving Grounds in New Mexico. While still in training, the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima in Nagasaki, Japan and the war ended in August, 1945. The orders for his crew to deploy to Okinawa to bomb Japan were cancelled and he was discharged at Camp Fannin in Tyler, in early February, 1946.
In March, 1949, he enrolled at the University of Texas to continue his education and was a member of the UT Track and Cross Country Team. He was a letterman in track at Texas in 1946 and became a member of the T-Association. He received his B.S. degree in 1947 and his Masters of Education degree in 1948.
He began his teaching career in the fall of 1948 at East Bernard School District in East Bernard. In the fall of 1949, he was employed by the Industrial School District in Vanderbilt. After being a junior high teacher and coach in Vanderbilt, he was assigned as principal of the Inez Elementary School in January, 1952. He remained as principal until his retirement in June, 1985.
On June 6, 1949, he married Albertha Schmidt. They were married in the Wharton Catholic Church by Father John Campbell. He and his loving wife Albertha, continue to make their home in Inez. C.J. enjoyed fishing, hunting, working with cattle and gardening. He also enjoyed many sporting activities. He was a Little League and teenage league coach when his children were growing up. He was a member of the UT T-Association, a life member of the Inez Volunteer Fire Department, and a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Albertha; his daughters Carolyn Swenson and husband Carl of Inez, Lynette Migl and husband George of Raisin, and son Charles Strnadel, III and his wife Carolyn of Inez. He is also survived by granddaughter, Cheyenne Migl of Raisin, and granddaughter-in-law, Sarah Strnadel and great-granddaughter, Cadence Strnadel of Victoria. He is survived by two sisters, Dorothy Benich of Hillje, and Lorraine Rod Green and husband Len of Conroe, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, grandson Charles Strnadel IV, and brother John N. Strnadel.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Inez, followed by a Rosary at 7 p.m. A Catholic Mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 10 a.m. Interment with full military honors under the auspices of the Victoria Veterans Council will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Ronald Rod, Chuck Rod, Tony Benich, Tim Benich, Chris Benich, James McConnell, Randall Schmidt and Harvey Skow.
Honorary pallbearers are all school personnel of Industrial School District, Bernard Deckert, Arnold Donaho, Frank Miori, Jr., Charles Nelson, Johnny Ressman, Ernest Stuart, Alfred Warzecha, Allan Witte, Milton Tater, and all members of the Inez Volunteer Fire Department.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the St. Joseph Catholic Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 337, Inez, Texas 77968 or Inez Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 427, Inez, Texas 77968.
Services are under the care and direction of Rosewood Funeral Chapels, 3304 E. Mockingbird, Victoria, Texas 77904.
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www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com