Charles"Bo" Edward Paradowski

“Well done, good and faithful servant.” Mr. Charles Edward “Bo” Paradowski passed away October 13, 2018 at the age of 81.

Bo was born July 27, 1937 in Bryan to Charlie and Christine Paradowski. His father was a furniture restorer and his mother was a nurse. Growing up in Bryan with his brother Sam, Bo was an avid baseball player and traveled the country playing the game he loved. Bo, a left-handed pitcher well known throughout town, was a central figure on the Bryan High School baseball team, winning two co-championships during his junior and senior years. After high school, he passed on conversations with the Boston Red Sox to instead accept a baseball scholarship to Texas A&M. Known as “Lefty”, he had a wicked pick-off move to first base and helped his team win the Southwest Conference title in 1959. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration. Bo’s love of baseball continued to serve him well as he entered the Army in 1959. He served as First Lieutenant at Fort Knox in Kentucky before being transferred to Fort Hood in 1960 to be recruited to coach the Army baseball team. He led the team to the second Army championship in 1961.

Bo met Barbara “Bobbi” Peterson through a friend at the Dandy Dog Drive-in in Bryan. Their relationship blossomed, and they married on January 24, 1959 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in College Station. In their 59-year union, the two were blessed with five children: Pam Schultz, Chuck, Phillip, Jeff, and Beau. Bobbi was the love of his life and his five children, twelve grandchildren, and three great grandchildren were his pride and joy. Bo and Bobbi were ardent supporters of Catholic education and sacrificed much to send their children to St. Pius X elementary school and Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas. Very strong in his faith, Bo was a lifelong supporter of the Catholic Church and was very active in every parish he attended. St. Pius X was the parish where he spent the most time in his life. He was President of the Men’s Club and started their athletic booster club. In 2012, he and Bobbi were honored as the St. Pius X parishioners of the year. He attended daily Mass as far back as anyone can remember.

Bo began his career with Colgate Palmolive before moving to Food Producers. He and his partner, Jim Stephens, started their own brokerage firm, Food Sales Systems, in 1982. He and Jim built the company into a nationally recognized business in the industry. He retired in 1997. In his earlier years, Bo and Bobbi were big tennis players. They were fortunate to travel the world to many exotic locations, but his fondest family memories were formed at a KOA campground on Toledo Bend Lake in East Texas for a week every year for fishing and waterskiing. Bo was an avid sportsman and loved fishing and hunting, taking many wonderful trips around the US, Canada, and Brazil. He enjoyed spending leisure time at his house at Camp Creek. They spent a lot of time at their condo on South Padre Island and loved having family vacations there with the entire Paradowski clan. He was happiest when his family gathered for every holiday. Bo loved his grandchildren and was prominent at their important events.

Bo leaves behind his wife Bobbi Paradowski; his daughter and son-in-law Pam Paradowski Schultz and Phil Schultz and their children Justin and wife Sandra (with their children Michael, Matthew, and Kyle) and Jessica Hutto-Schultz and spouse Ashley Hutto-Schultz; his son and daughter-in-law Chuck and Diane Paradowski and their children Chad and his wife Christin, Christopher, and Colton and his wife Enid; his son Philip Paradowski; his son and daughter-in-law Jeff and Becky Paradowski and their children Alec, Megan, Cullen, and Jack; his son and daughter-in-law Beau and Breah Paradowski and their children Ellyse, Beau, and Ainsley; and his brother and sister-in-law Sam and Wanda Paradowski.

To honor Bo’s life, his family has planned a visitation on Wednesday, October 17th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a Rosary and sharing of memories ceremony to begin at 7 p.m. at Hillier Funeral Home of College Station. His Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, October 18th, 2018 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church at 10 a.m., followed by a reception at the church. Burial will follow the reception at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St Mary’s Catholic Church of College Station building fund at 603 Church Avenue, College Station, TX 77840.