Pauline M. Dusek

1926 - 2025

Pauline Marjorie Matthews Dusek passed away in San Marcos, Texas at the age of 99. Pauline was a warm and generous person that never turned someone away that needed help. Pauline was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She got great pleasure out of her family, and she loved them all unconditionally.

Pauline was born in Slaton, Texas, on April 13, 1926, to Inez Conley and James Matthews. Pauline moved with her family to Alpine, Texas when she was four eventually graduating from Alpine High School in 1943. At the age of 16, Pauline began working at Marfa Army Airfield as part of the war effort. She worked on the T-6 Texan trainer, doping the canvas and painting insignias. She remembered her plane very well. At the age of 92, she attended an airshow advertising the T-6 Texan as one of the planes in attendance. The plane billed as the T-6 Texan was a similar, but different airplane. She pointed out that it was not a Texan, with the owner ultimately admitting that the Texan had become grounded due to weather and that the plane was not the Texan. The event recognized Pauline as the oldest veteran in attendance. While working at Marfa Airfield during World War II, she met her future husband, Sergeant John Dusek. They were married on September 2nd, 1944, in Alpine, Texas. During World War II, Pauline traveled with John to Chanute, Illinois, Warner Robbins, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, finally ending in San Marcos in 1952.

During her life in San Marcos, Pauline worked at several local businesses including Sunshine Cleaners, Brown School, Hamilton Furniture, and World Finance. After John passed away in 1977, Pauline earned her business certification from Durham's Business College in 1978. She worked in human resources at Wide-Lite Corporation until 1989, when she moved to Thermon as an administrative assistant in the engineering department. Pauline retired from Thermon in 2001. Pauline led an active lifestyle. She played on the Gary AFB women's softball and volleyball teams. She played on many bowling teams. She was a member of the San Marcos Lioness Club. She liked to travel, including going to Washington D.C. for her 80th birthday. She was an avid volksmarcher, and hiker to keep herself in shape. She enjoyed working in her yard and was proud to have been twice awarded the yard of the month. She stayed active, living in her house until she was 94 when medical challenges made her slow down.

Pauline is preceded in death by her husband John Dusek and survived by her son John Dusek, Jr. and wife Tanya Dusek of Katy, Texas., son Dennis Dusek and wife Donna Dusek of Fischer, Texas, son Ronald Dusek and wife Karen Dusek of San Marcos, Texas, son Charles Dusek and wife Diane Dusek of San Marcos, Texas, son Gary Dusek and wife Denise Dusek of Maxwell, Texas, and daughter Theresa Clary and husband Charles Clary of San Marcos, Texas. Pauline had 27 grandchildren and many great and great-great grandchildren.

Services are Monday, June 9, 2025, at Pennington Memorial Chapel, 323 N. Comanche St., San Marcos, Texas with visitation beginning at 9:00am and Funeral Service at 10:00am. Burial will follow at San Marcos City Cemetery, 1001 Old Ranch Rd. 12, San Marcos, Texas.