St. Michael the arch angel has called another paratrooper home. LTC (Ret.) Anthony Stephen Slovacek, 73, of Hendersonville, died Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, at the Charles George VA Medical Center. A native of Schenectady, N.Y., Anthony was a son of the late Anthony and Esther Kovarovic Slovacek. He was a 1960 graduate of the Citadel and served as a career soldier for 27 years. An Airborne Ranger, he had earned the Master Parachutist’s Badge and the Pathfinder Badge. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam, earning three Purple Hearts, five Bronze Star Medals, seven Air Medals and the Combat Infantryman Badge. Before retirement from the U.S. Army in 1987, he was awarded the Legion of Merit. He later served as a Department of Defense Civilian, working with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools System and the U.S. Army Personnel Command in Europe. He and his wife retired to Hendersonville in 1996. Enjoying his adopted hometown, he served on the City Tree Board and on the Hendersonville Planning Board. He was member of Apple Country Woodcrafters and Greenville Woodworkers Guild. He served western North Carolina high school athletics as a soccer referee for several years. He volunteered with the Henderson County Chapter of the American Red Cross and North Carolina Cooperative Extension as a master gardner. He was a mentor to 4-H Youth in the Mini-Garden and Creative Garden Programs. He was a member of St. Barnabas Catholic Church. Tony is survived by his wife of 49 years, “”BJ”” Kinns Slovacek; four daughters, Stephanie Slovacek Johnson and husband Johnny of Columbia, S.C., Jennifer Slovacek Lintz and husband Larry of Dayton, Ohio, Sara Slovacek Greene and husband Mark of Shelby, and Amy Slovacek Bigham and husband Jim of Columbia, S.C.; three sisters, Nancy Elliott of Tampa, Fla., Jane Reitmeier and husband Bill of Roebuck, S.C., and Carol Thompson and husband Eric of Greenville, S.C.; nine grandchildren, Christopher and Patrick Johnson, Zachary, Katie and Anthony Lintz, Benjamin and Ashleigh Greene, and Tessa and Chloe Bigham; as well as several nieces and nephews. Visitation: There will be a reception at the church immediately following the Mass Memorial Mass: 2 p.m. Friday at St. Barnabas Roman Catholic Church Officiated By: Father Adrian Porras Burial: 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, with full military honors at Ft. Jackson National Cemetery in Columbia, S.C. Funeral Home: Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is serving the family Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family graciously asks to consider a memorial contribution in Tony’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, K.S., 66675; or The Henderson County Chapter American Red Cross, 203 Second Ave. E, Hendersonville, N.C., 28792; or your local chapter of the American Red Cross. Tags: 1960
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