Walter Joe Ruzicka

Walter Joe Ruzicka, 80, passed away October 22, 2018 at Rollins Brook Community Hospital. Visitation will be held Friday, October 26 at Sneed Funeral Chapel from 6- 8 pm. Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 27 at Lometa United Methodist Church at 1 pm. Burial follows at Lometa Cemetery. Walter was born September 28, 1938 in Zabcikville, TX to Jim and Frances Ruzicka. He graduated from Rogers High School and afterwards worked for the Santa Fe Railroad. Walter enlisted in the US Navy in 1961 as an Electronics Repair Technician. He served aboard the USS Frank Knox stationed out of Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. Walter spent many months at sea during many deployments in the Western Pacific. He was honorably discharged as a Petty Officer 3rd Class in 1965. After his service, Walter went to work for General Dynamics in Fort Worth. He met Charlene Gerhart in January 1967 at First Methodist Church of Fort Worth and they were married on July 1, 1967. He received his Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Texas Christian University in 1972. He continued working for General Dynamics, which later became Lockheed Martin, retiring from there in 1998. Throughout his life, he worked part- time farming and ranching from childhood through his time living in Godley, TX. Once Walter retired, he and Charlene purchased property near Lometa, where he worked full- time on the ranch. Walter was a member of Lometa United Methodist Church, Lometa Lions Club, American Legion Post #116, and a former director of Lampasas County Farm Bureau. He enjoyed his work on the ranch most days, loved a good game of dominos, and loved his family, especially his grandchildren. Walter is survived by his wife, Charlene of Lometa; daughter Robyn Hedrick and her husband Van of Lindsay, TX; son, Stephen Ruzicka of Lometa; five grandchildren: Ashley, Allison, and Autumn Hedrick of Lindsay, TX; Seth and Maija Ruzicka of Battle Creek, Michigan; sister- in- law, Mary Ann Ruzicka of Mesquite, TX; a niece and numerous nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Jim and Frances Ruzicka, of Heidenheimer, TX; brother, Wilbert Ruzicka, of Mesquite, TX and sister, Carolyn Campbell of Heidenheimer, TX.