In Memoriam: Father Thomas Francis Showalter, SOLT

Father Thomas Francis Showalter, SOLT Sept. 6, 1957 – July 13, 2013

Father Thomas Francis Showalter, SOLT passed peacefully on Saturday, July 13. He was pastor at St. John Nepomucene Parish in Robstown and Dean of the Five Points Deanery in the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

Father Showalter was born on Sept. 6, 1957 in Spokane, Washington where he grew up. His family later moved to Minnesota.

After studying in Rome, he was ordained into the priesthood on June 7, 1997.

Previous to his service at St. John Nepomucene in Robstown, Father Showalter faithfully served in Belcourt, ND and in Irkutsk, Russia, where he did such a good job at conversions that the Russian government did not renew his visa.

Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey, who celebrated at Father Showalter’s Mass of Christian Burial, said that they gathered “in joy, sifted through tears.”

“The legacy of Father Tom to all of us is love,” a family member said in his eulogy.

His parents Don and Britta Showalter survive Father Showalter, along with his siblings Steve (Vicki) Showalter, Ann Serdar, Mary Jo (Dan) Rolczynski, Robert Showalter, Meg (George) McManmon and Teri Drake; 13 nephews and six nieces; 15 great-nephews and nine great-nieces; and his SOLT community.

Father Showalter was laid to rest at St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery in Robstown.