Theodore "Ted" John Dombrowa

Theodore "Ted" John Dombrowa passed away peacefully Saturday, November 16 in Houston. Ted was born December 18, 1933, in Saginaw, Michigan to Merl Dombrowa and Nellie Mae nee Leahy Dombrowa. He was baptized in Jacksonville and went to Lutheran school in Lafayette where he was confirmed. He worked on farms there, mostly in the summertime. Ted’s father was transferred to Kansas City in 1950 where he was an area supervisor for what is now known as Kmart. Ted graduated from Paseo High School in Kansas City, MO, in June 1952. He enlisted in the US Air Force at 18 and completed his flight training as a navigator in September 1955.

After graduation from training, Ted married his wife of 50 years, Patty L. Warr. During his Air Force career, Ted was stationed all over the world, including Alaska, California, Germany, Illinois and Okinawa. He was a decorated combat veteran of the Vietnam War, where he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Ted retired from the Air Force on March 1, 1973, after 21 years of service and moved to Houston. Shortly after, he began working for Amica Insurance as a housing inspector in the Houston, Dallas-Ft. Worth and Austin areas. He retired from Amica in 2003. After Patty’s death in 2005, Ted made the most of his retirement years, gardening and tending to his beautiful homegrown roses. He lived with his daughter Debbie, and enjoyed an active and full life, visiting often with his Uncle Wyndell.

Ted has been a beloved and active member of Mount Olive Lutheran Church since 2002 and has been a great help to the employees and the school. He was a member of the church council and a lector as well. He remained active right up until he became ill. Ted faithfully brought fruit every Monday for both the teachers and the office administrator, as well as roses when he was still able to work in his garden. Whether you were a child or an adult, he always made you smile. He was very loved and will be greatly missed.

Ted was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Robert, and by his wife Patty. Ted is survived by his brother David; daughter, Debbie Powell and fiancée Chris Barrera; son, John R. Dombrowa and wife, Beth; and granddaughters, Eden Paige Dombrowa and Carson Lane Dombrowa.