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Clovis (Tex) Girouard lifelong resident of Fitchburg
Tex was born in Fitchburg April 5, 1925 son of Arthur J. And Leah (Leger) Girouard
and was a lifelong resident of Fitchburg.
Tex worked many occupations ranging from construction, electrical and heavy equipment
operator, but was most notably remembered as Tex Stone, a well-known and exceptional
guitar player and musician. In the 1930's he formed a band they called The Sundowners.
The Sundowners became a well-polished country band that toured the U.S. and
Canada in the early years, as well as becoming the house band at the Lonestar Ranch.
They were the band that would back up the big acts that came to the area. The Sundowners
also performed on live local radio shows, and had weekly gigs, packing the house at numerous
local venues. They delighted audiences for over 60 years and were recently honored and
inducted into The New England Country Music Hall of Fame.
Tex is a proud veteran who served his country during World War II. He enlisted in
the Army in 1941 and put the music on hold. He served in the Air Force
during World War II, and fought battles in the Pacific where he flew 45 missions as a top
turret gunner on a B-24 bomber, as a member of the 5th Bombardment Group of the 13th
Air Force, The Bomber Barons. He completed his service at the rank of Staff sergeant at the
end of World War II. He earned many service medals including the Air medal four times, the good
conduct medal, the Philippine Liberation ribbon with one bronze star, Philippine Liberation
medal, the Chinese-Burma medal, the Asiatic- Pacific and World war II Victory medals
and Philippine and American Unit Citations.
A member of The Fitchburg Sportsman Club and Tex has also been a life member of the
American legion post 429.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Victoria (Gionet) Girouard, two sons, Gary Girouard
and his wife Patricia (Mooney) Girouard and Alan Girouard and his wife Jeanne (DiNardo) Girouard,
both of Ashburnham. Three daughters, Cheryl Girouard and her partner Ruth Pedrick,
Lisa Girouard and her fiancé Bertrand Daigle both of Gardner, and Michele (Girouard) Bodah
and her husband James Bodah of Naples Maine. A sister Doris (Girouard) DeStadio
and her husband Joseph.
He also leaves five grandchildren: Allison (Girouard) Priore, Clayton Girouard, Alysha
(Girouard) McCooe, Jacqueline Girouard and Zachary Girouard, along with three great-grandsons
and many nieces and nephews.
He is predeceased by his brother Leo Girouard, and sisters, Alice Lampula, Theresa Williams,
Janet Shea Rita Gale and one granddaughter Sarah Girouard.
GIROUARD -- The funeral will be held in St. Joseph's Church, Fitchburg on Tuesday,
January 8, 2013 with a Mass at 11:30 A.M. Burial will follow in the MA Veteran's Memorial
Cemetery, Winchendon.
There are no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tex's honor to the Alzheimer's Foundation,
480 Pleasant St. Watertown, MA 02472 or on-line at http://www.alz.org/
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