Charles Ray Symank passed away on October 6, 2017, after a brief battle with brain cancer at the age of 78.  A funeral service will be at 10 A.M. Saturday, October 14, 2017, at St. John Lutheran Church, Coryell City (Gatesville). Pastors Christopher Richmann and Larry Henrichs will be co-officiates.  Interment will follow at 1 P.M.  at Our Savior's Lutheran Church Cemetery at Norse (Clifton).

Visitation will be Friday, October 13th at Foss Funeral Home in Valley Mills from 6:00 – 8:00 P.M.

Charles was born December 15, 1938, at Mosheim (Valley Mills), TX to Otto and Helen Willmann Symank.  He was baptized at St. James Lutheran Church at Mosheim on March 5, 1939 and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church  at Coryell City on May 24, 1953.  He graduated Mosheim High School in 1956, earned an AA degree from Tarleton State University in 1958, a BA degree in Biology Secondary Education from Baylor University in 1964 and an M.Ed. from Tarleton in Mid-Management in 1976, followed by his Superintendent Certification in 1979.

Charles married Joyce Hall Symank at our Savior's Lutheran Church, Norse, on June 2, 1961.  To this union one daughter, Stephanie Rene Symank, was born in 1968.  She was always the delight of her dad's eye.  His first year out of Baylor University, he taught at Aquilla High School for one year and spent the following 33 years at Valley Mills as a science teacher, Elementary and High School principals.  Charles put his heart and soul into public education.  He loved serving the students, staff and families of the Valley Mills community for over three decades.  His family and friends often commented that "school" was his hobby.  He spent countless hours making sure students came first.  He had no favorites, he loved them all, and they knew it.

Charles and Joyce were members of Christ Lutheran Church in Waco for over 39 years before moving their membership to St. John Lutheran Church at Coryell City.

Charles served on the Bosque County Child Welfare Board for many years and two terms on the  Goodall-Witcher Hospital Board of Directors in Clifton.  He served on the Public Responsibility Committee for 7 years and 24 years on the Board of Trustees for the Heart of Texas Region MHMR Center in Waco.  He was a member of Bosque County Retired Teachers and a volunteer at the Bosque Valley Food Pantry at Valley Mills.  He enjoyed being a member of the Kountry Kampers RV camping club for many years.  In addition, he enjoyed flower gardening, working in his vegetable garden, traveling and watching his twin grandsons in their many events.  He never met a stranger wherever he went.

Preceding Charles in death, are his parents, brother, Tommie, who was killed in Viet Nam in 1968 and a brother, James.

Charles is survived by his wife, Joyce, for over 56 years, daughter, Stephanie Kucera and husband, Steven, of West, and twin grandsons, Jackson and Nicholas Kucera, of Waco and College Station, respectively.  Also, one brother, Michael, and wife Paula, of Mexia and one uncle, three aunts, many cousins, a niece, two nephews, numerous former students, colleagues and friends.

The family would like to thank Dr. Gary Barbin and the staff at Providence Internal Medicine Clinic in Waco for the many years of care and Providence Hospice staff at Whitney for their care and compassion during the past six weeks.

Memorials may be made to St. John Lutheran Church, 10801 FM 929, Gatesville, TX 76528, Our  Savior's Lutheran Church, 152 CR 4145, Clifton, TX 76634, or Valley Mills ISD Education Foundation, PO Box 126 Valley Mills, TX 76689