Gold Star Mother Verona (Selzer) Fink

Private First Class Walter H. Fink, U.S. Army [___ __ 1906 - August 1, 1944] was born to Charles Fink [August 10, 1858 - September 3, 1944] and Verona (Selzer) Fink [July 3, 1877 - December 12, 1945] at Colorado County, Texas.  He joined the U.S. Army on May 22, 1942 at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas.  Walter was serving with the 33^rd Armored Regiment, 3^rd Armored Division “Spearhead Division” sometimes referred to as “Third Herd”, when he was Killed in Action on August 1, 1944.  The Division landed in England during mid-September 1943 and maneuvered widely over Salisbury Plain, engaged in landing exercises along the British coast, and took part in various training courses.  The 3^rd Armored Division was in the Normandy Invasion, landing on Utah Beach on July 9, 1944.  The Division “Spearheaded” the U.S. First Army through Normandy, taking part in a number of engagements, notably including the Battle of St. Lo [July 3 - 18, 1944] where it suffered significant casualties.  During the First Army Breakout from Normandy [July 24, - August 4, 1944] Walter was Killed in Action.  He was first interred at Marigny Cemetery, St. Lo, France.  Then was moved to Neuville-En-Condroz Permanent Cemetery in Belgium (Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial) where he was re-interred in Plot C, Row 14, Grave 47.  This is a beautiful 90 acre cemetery with 5,329 interments (many of whom died in the Battle of the Bulge) and 462 names on the Tablets of the Missing. At the time of his death, he was survived by his parents: Charles and Verona; four brothers: Felix, Werner (Vernon), Charley and Rudy; and six sisters: Mrs. Theresa Kowis, Mrs. Rosie Pachacek, Mrs. Freda Williams, Mrs. Selma Bunton, Mrs. Clara Matchett and Mrs. Edeltraud Lunda who was living in California. His parents were living at Midfield at this time.
 

Mrs. Verona Fink

Mrs. Verona Fink, age 68 years, five months and nine days passed away Wednesday at 7:25 p.m. after an illness of only a few hours.  Mrs. Fink was a resident of Midfield, Texas.

She is survived by six daughters, Mrs. Clara Matchett, Victoria, Texas, Mrs. Rosie Pechacek, Freeport, Texas, Mrs. Tresa Kovis, Arcadia, Texas, Mrs. Freda Williams, Sweeny, Texas, Mrs. Selma Bunton, Midfield, Texas, and Mrs. E. H. Lunda [Lunde], California; Four sons, Charlie Fink, Rudy Fink, U.S. Army, Felix Fink, Harlingen, Texas, and Vernon Fink of Alice, Texas.

Funeral services were held at the Matchett-Newman Funeral Home, this afternoon at 4 p.m. with burial in Cedarvale cemetery, with Rev. E. F. Lampe, pastor of the Lutheran church, El Campo, officiating.

The Matagorda County Tribune,  Thursday December 20, 1945 
 

Midfield Community News

We are sorry to report the passing of Mr. Chas. Fink, Sr. on Sunday at Nightingale Hospital in El Campo.  The burial took place Tuesday, September 5th in Bay City cemetery, the cortege leaving El Campo at 3 o’clock.

Mr. Fink was eighty-seven years old, and had been in feeble health for some months and for the past two weeks had been confined to the hospital.

He was born in Germany and came to the United States when quite a young man moving to this community from Lavaca County about twenty-two or three years ago.

He leaves his wife and eleven sons and daughters to mourn his loss.  One daughter lives in Oakland, California and was not able to be here, and one son, Walter, who has been recently reported missing in action in France; the others were all here for the funeral.  They are Felix of Harlingen, Werner of Alice, Mrs. Theresa Kowis of Alvin, Mrs. Rosie Pechacek of Freeport, Mrs. Freda Williams of Sweeny, Mrs. Selma Bunton  and Mrs. Clara Matchett and Charley of Midfield.  Also, Rudy who is in service at Camp Swift was expected to be here.  We are sorry to not be able to give more data at this writing.

 The Daily Tribune, September 6, 1944
 

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