Rodney Anton Novosad

Rodney Anton Novosad, 84, of Baytown was born January 19, 1933, in Baytown and passed away Tuesday, January 2, 2018, in a Baytown hospital. He was a 1950 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School and then St. Thomas University in Houston, where he played on the basketball team. He was a U. S. Army Korean War era veteran and a licensed professional counselor, retiring from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio as head counselor. He was a lifelong member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, was a Marianist Brother for 26 years, served as a pianist and organist for several churches, the last of which was St. Josephs, and was a hospice volunteer for over 25 years. After many years, Rodney reconnected with his high school sweetheart Jerilyn and married her November 1, 1988. He loved being a grandfather and great grandfather.

He was preceded in death by his father, A. J. “Tom” Novosad; mother and stepfather, Rose Novosad Watkins and Watty Watkins; sister and brother-in-law, Ruby Mae and Al Hanson; and grandson, Kevin Smith. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Jerilyn Wilburn Novosad; daughters and son-in-law, Kathy and Wes Winn and Connie Smith; sister and brother-in-law, Cathy and Gray Gardner; sister-in-law, Lula Fay Benes; grandchildren, Randy and Kim Hopper, Jeri Leigh and Gert Jensen, Wesley Winn, and Blake Smith; 6 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

His family will receive friends at Navarre Funeral Home Friday, January 5, 2018, beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a rosary to follow at 7:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be Saturday, January 6, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1907 Carolina Ave., Baytown, TX 77520, with Rev. Edmund Eduarte officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in the Garden of Gethsemane in the Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston.

Serving as pallbearers will be his grandsons Randy Hopper, Wesley Winn, Blake Smith, and Gert Jensen and his nephews Tom Hanson, Mark Hanson, Steve Hanson, and John Gardner. Honorary Pallbearers will be Bill Duplantis, John Thomas, and Gene Read.

To view the online obituary or to post a tribute for the family, go to www.navarrefuneralhome.com

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Dr., Baytown, TX, 77521 (281) 422-8111.