Funeral services for Ann Bulecza Petronis were Aug. 18, 2010, at St. Brendan’s Catholic Church with Father Philip McNamara officiating. A rosary service was Aug. 17 at Lacy Funeral Home. Burial took place Aug. 19 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.

Mrs. Petronis of Stephenville, and a longtime resident of Temple, died Aug. 16 at Stephenville Nursing Home at the age of 93.

She was born Nov. 24, 1916 to the late John and Helen Smisko Bulecza, immigrants from Czechoslovakia.

She married Joseph Richard Petronis, the son of Lithuanian immigrants, at St. John’s Russian Orthodox Church on Sept. 16, 1939.

Mrs. Petronis graduated from Perth Amboy High School in June 1934 and completed training at St. Peter’s General Hospital Nursing School in New Brunswick, N.J., to become a registered nurse in 1938.

After working briefly at the French Hospital in New York City, she and her husband moved to Indianapolis, Ind., where he attended Butler University on football and track scholarships, and Mrs. Petronis worked as a nursing supervisor at the Methodist Hospital.

After her husband graduated, he joined the Army Air Corps, and Mrs. Petronis began her travels as a military wife and volunteer. She was recognized for her services to the Officers’ Wives Club, Red Cross and other volunteer organizations during their assignments to U.S. Air Force bases in New Mexico, Texas, California, Arkansas, Mississippi, New York and Puerto Rico.

After Mr. Petronis’ retirement as a colonel in 1968, the couple lived briefly in Arkansas and Tennessee before moving to Temple in 1972. There, Mrs. Petronis was active in the VFW Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary, Fort Hood Officers’ Wives Club and St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She also was a longtime volunteer with the Temple VA Hospital.

Mrs. Petronis moved to Stephenville in August 2008.

As a supporter for the nursing career, she led the establishment of the VFW and VFW Auxiliary nursing scholarships at Temple College. In May 2010, Mrs. Petronis and her sons established the Ann Bulecza Petronis Nursing Scholarship Endowment at Tarleton State University, with the first recipient awarded a scholarship for fall 2010.

Mrs. Petronis is survived by two sons, Richard Joseph Petronis and wife Janis of Stephenville, and Joseph Richard Petronis Jr. and wife Debby of Lampasas; grandchildren Amie Plumley and husband Eric of Memphis, Tenn., Renee Warner and husband Brian of Waxahachie, Joseph R. Petronis III and wife Mary of Austin, Kelli Cubeta and husband Michael of San Antonio, Richie Petronis of Fort Worth and Joby Petronis of Minneapolis, Minn.; great-grandchildren Briann Warner, Phoebe Plumlee and Frankie Plumlee, and Alexandra Cubeta and Scarlett Cubeta.

She was preceded in death by her husband on Aug. 11, 1987, and by sisters Mary and husband Mickey Kurucza, and Helen and husband John Kopi; and sisters-in-law Agnes and husband Ignatz Plesnak, Nellie and husband Walter Chelez, and Ann and husband Henry Slaninko, all of New Jersey.

Donations may be sent to the Ann Bulecza Petronis Nursing Scholarship Fund at Tarleton State University, P.O. Box T0415, Stephenville, TX 76402.