Ira Malone, Jr.

Ira E. Malone, Jr. passed away on January 15, 2014, in Houston, Texas, at 91 years of age. Ira was born on December 15, 1922 to Ira E. Malone, Sr. and Lilly (Lee) Malone in Bee County, Texas near the Orangedale community. The family had moved to Bee County from Hood County in north Texas in a covered wagon. Ira grew up in an agricultural family in the days when people did not have electricity or telephones, and they plowed their fields with mules rather than tractors. Ira proudly became an Eagle Scout as a teenager. While still in high school, he joined the Texas National Guard. Ira is a decorated veteran serving in Co. B, 405th Regt., 102nd Inf. Dv., 9thArmy in WWII from 1944 to 1946. He achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant and earned the Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman Badge as well as other awards. In addition to combat, his war experiences included liberating a German concentration camp, and replacing the innocent prisoners with captured Nazi SS officers. After the war, Ira had one job interview for the rest of his life. He worked initially for Brown Express, then was sought out for advancement to executive levels with United Gas, Union Producing Company, Pennzoil, and Pennzoil Offshore Gas Operators until his retirement. In retirement, he developed a passion for genealogy, researching his various family lines back to Europe in the earliest American colonial times. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of 1812, Sons of the Republic of Texas and Sons of Confederate Veterans. Ira is survived by his sister Berna Timlin, sons Steven and Larry Malone, grandchildren Colin (Steven) and Nick (Larry), and great granddaughter Amelia (Nick), as well as numerous cousins, nephews and nieces. Ira was preceded in death two years ago by his wife of 64 years, Virginia Dare Murphey Malone. Ira was a devoted Baptist all his life. He will be remembered as a fine example of everything a husband, father, grandfather and a man should be. In the words of the Boy Scout Law, he was always "trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent". A visitation and viewing is scheduled for Saturday, January 18, 2014 from 6:00pm until 8:00pm at Galloway and Sons Funeral Home, 409 North Tyler Street, Beeville, Texas 78102 (361-358-2512). Interment is scheduled for Sunday, January 19, 2014 at 3:00pm at the Glenwood Cemetery in Beeville. Details for a memorial service in Houston are not yet complete.