William Earl Malina

Military Graveside Services will be held Monday, February 29, 2016, at 11:30 a.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cameron for Mr. William Earl Malina, 92, of Austin. Mr. Malina passed away Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at an Austin hospital after an illness. A Memorial Service and Celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Kingsville, TX.

Mr. Malina was born August 3, 1923 in Holland, TX to Benno and Ella Menn Malina. He graduated from Taft High School in 1941. He married LaVaun Glaser in Buckholts, TX on April 7, 1946.

Mr. Malina retired from the military, having served in the United States Navy. In 1942, at the time the original “Houston Avengers” were preparing to man a ship with Texas patriots, Mr. Malina enlisted in the Navy at NAS Corpus Christi. After touring both the Atlantic and Western Pacific aboard the USS Randolph, Malina was assigned to VR-21 at NAS Barbers Point Hawaii in 1947, where he fulfilled dual duties in education and maintenance. He was reassigned in 1955 to the USS Pine Island, home ported in San Diego. He was commissioned Ensign, United States Navy, on July 21, 1958, after 16 years of service as an enlisted man. Mr. Malina was assigned to the Navy’s largest squadron, which made the “Barrier Runs” from Midway Island to Adak, Alaska. He served as Maintenance Control Officer while assigned with AWEBARRONPAC. At his retirement ceremony in 1972, after 30 years of service in the Navy, Mr. Malina was given final honors as a bell rang twice, and the boatswain’s whistle sounded, “Lieutenant Commander William Malina, United States Navy, retired, departing.” A fitting farewell to an outstanding Navy man.

His dream for life was fulfilled by being able to spend nearly 70 years of marriage with LaVaun, the love of his life. Whatever he did in life was grounded in the love of God through Jesus Christ. His faithfulness to the church was an example to everyone who knew him. Whether he was teaching his daughters, playing with his grandkids and great-grandkids, he shared that love with them, and they always wanted more…”One more time, Grandpa!”

Survivors include:
Wife-LaVaun Malina of Austin, Texas
2) Daughters
Jeanette Raye (Bill) Boelter of Moorhead, Minnesota
Sondra Kaye (Ted) Geist of Austin, Texas
3) Grandchildren
Kasi Adler
Jeremy “Buddy” (Trudy) Boelter
Jenica Boelter
6) Great-Grandchildren
Noah and Amber Adler
Xander, Autumn, Ava and Liam Boelter
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Robert Malina and a sister, Dorothy Campbell.

Honorary Pallbearers are Noah and Adam Adler and Xander, Autumn, Ava and Liam Boelter.

The family will receive visitors from 10:30-11:15 on Monday, February 29, at Green-Patterson Funeral Home in Cameron.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Trinity Lutheran Church, 401 W. King, Kingsville, Texas 78363.