Harvey W. Droll

Harvey William Droll, 101, of Rowena, Texas, passed away peacefully, on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, in San Angelo, Texas.

He was born on February 24, 1922, to William and Freda (Glass) Droll in Rowena, Texas. Harvey attended school at St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Rowena through his freshman year before finishing high school in Ballinger with the class of 1938.  He entered the workforce young when wages were only 15 cents an hour and spent time at Wilde Gin as a bookkeeper.  He started farming on his own in 1941 and enlisted in the United States Armed Services in the Air Force on October 15, 1942. Harvey was honorably discharged in Sacramento, CA, on February 14, 1946.  Shortly thereafter, he married Sidona Multer at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Olfen on April 30, 1946.  They spent 40 beautiful years together farming, raising children, traveling, and dancing until her passing on February 23, 1987.

Harvey was chairman of the building committee at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Rowena when the parish hall was built. He worked at over 50 years of Fall Festivals for St. Joseph’s. He was Grand Knight and Treasurer for the Knights of Columbus.  Among his other accolades, he also served on the advisory committee to build the current Ballinger High School, Farm, Home Administration Committee, Runnels County Tax Appraisal District Committee, and was a director for the Farm Bureau. He was on the committee for the Millersview-Doole water project from 1960 to 1970.

He is preceded in death by his parents William and Freda Droll, his wife Sidona Droll, special friend Pauline Book, brothers Carl and Billy (Wanda) Droll, sisters Ethel (Dutch) Weishuhn and Jean (Bernard) Hirt and brother-in-laws Norbert Halfmann, Roman (Gladys) Multer, Alfred and Curtis Multer.

Harvey is survived by his children, Msgr. Larry Droll, Ron (Kathy) Droll, Howard (Mary) Droll, Dennis (Claudia) Droll, Donna (Larry) Ripley, Carolyn (Bobby) Hamilton and Dale (Jackie) Droll.  He is also survived by grandchildren, Scott Droll, Angela (Mike) Palumbo, Fr. Adam Droll, Bethany Droll, Eli (Carol) Droll, Devon Durand, Ethan (Jamie) Droll, Kristin (Michael) Scandolari, Chase (Brandi) Ripley, Michelle (Thomas) Hart, Jonathan Hamilton, Christina Hamilton, Dustin (Erin) Droll and Darren (Fiance - Cassidy) and 18 great-grandchildren.  Also surviving are his sisters, Lucille Halfmann and Dorothy (Eugene) Hirt, and sister-in-law, Mary Lou Multer.

A rosary will be held for Harvey on Monday, May 29th, 2023 at 6:30 pm at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rowena with Father Adam Droll officiating.  His Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Tuesday, May 30th, 2023 at 10:00 am, also at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with Monsignor Larry Droll celebrating.  Interment will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to “Meals for the Elderly” in Harvey’s name.

The family wishes to thank Enedina Rivera and her staff for their tender love and care of Harvey, Amy Watkins, his physical therapist, and Solaris Hospice, especially Lindsey Grimes.

As Harvey would say “See you down the road somewhere.”