Charles E. Kolodzey

Charles E. Kolodzey Charles Edwin Kolodzey, engineer, died the morning of February 3, 2009. He was 95 years old. Charles was born January 28, 1914 in Yorktown, Texas, son of Ed Kolodzey and Mary Ann Rothschmidt Kolodzey. He attended St. Edward's University in Austin and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in 1936. He enrolled in graduate school at the University of Texas, but his studies were interrupted by the outbreak of World War II. Charles served in the U.S. Navy during the war and saw action in the Pacific. After the war, Charles returned to U.T. and completed a Master of Science in Civil Engineering in 1946. While at the College of Engineering, he studied with celebrated professors T.U. Taylor, John Focht, and Phil Ferguson. While at U.T., Charles met Claire Swenson, a Home Economics student. They married in 1940 and had one son, William. Charles worked as an engineer with Humble Oil (now ExxonMobil) for 30 years. He was involved in the design and construction of offshore oil platforms, including the first deep water operation in the Gulf of Mexico. He lived in the New Orleans area for most of this time, but following his retirement in the late 1970s, he and Claire returned to Austin in the early 1990s. Charles was an active outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing off the Gulf coast and hunting on family properties near Yorktown. He was a member of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church and was very active in church functions. Charles was also an active alum at St. Edward's University and the University of Texas. Charles was preceded in death by his wife, Claire; his son, William; and his brother, Col. Joseph Kolodzey. He is survived by a granddaughter, Heather Kolodzey of Austin; grandson, William Edward Kolodzey II of Shreveport, LA; and nieces, Katherine Kolodzey Webster (Mark) of Austin and Sarah Hesslink of Spokane, WA. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, February 5, 2009 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home with Recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Celebration will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, February 6, 2009 at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church with Father Pat Coakley, Celebrant. Immediately following the Mass, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church will host a reception. Interment Services will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Cemetery in Yorktown, Texas. Please join us in honoring Charles' life by visiting our memorial at www.mem.com where we invite you to share your thoughts and fond memories with our family.