Roll Call Tribute

John Rudolf Vilas 

June 11, 1931 - April 16, 2024 

John Rudolf Vilas, 92, of College Station, passed away peacefully at home on April 16, 2024.

John was born June 11, 1931 to Albert Henry Vilas and his wife Alice May Rudolf Vilas in Oak Park, Illinois. John, an only child, and his family moved around the country a number of times due to WWII.

After the war, John moved to Texas with his parents where he completed high school in the small town of Lytle. John came to Texas A&M University in 1949, which at the time was an all-male, compulsory military college. John received a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Industrial Education from Texas A&M in 1953 and 1966 respectively. While he was a student, he worked for Coulter Frame Company, making picture frames, with his earnings he bought a Harley motorcycle, and later sold it to purchase a Piper Cub airplane, which began his life-long love of flying. Later in life, he began building his own 2-seater Challenger airplane. He had both his private and commercial pilots’ licenses.

During his time in the Corps of Cadets, he met Jean Walton who later became his wife of 68 years. They were married February 11, 1956 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Bryan; later that year bringing into this world their only child, John Walton Vilas. The three of them traveled the world together through John’s 30-year career in the Army; from coast to coast at many duty stations and in Germany. John also served in both Vietnam and Korea. He rose quickly through the ranks, becoming a Colonel in record time. He was assigned to Texas A&M twice in the ROTC program, teaching seniors under COL Denzel Baker. He also earned another (civilian) Master’s degree from Shippensburg University while simultaneously attending the Army War College in Carlisle, PA. During his time in the Army, John also served in the U.S. Senate.

During his honorable military career, he earned numerous medals including the Legion of Merit Medal, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal and National Defense Service Medal.

Following his retirement from the Army after 30 years, he turned to running the family ranch in Millican and designing and building the family home in College Station. At the same time, he nurtured his love of education and teaching by working with at-risk children in the HOSTS program at Fannin Elementary School in Bryan. His other interests were giving talks on Millican history and studying Roman and Egyptian history.

John is survived by his wife, Jean, and their son, John Walton and wife Julie; 5 granddaughters: Gretchen Dowdy and husband Philip, and their son, Benjamin, of Millican, Texas, Martha Vilas, Bridget Vilas, Stephanie Vilas and Claire Vilas, all of Bryan-College Station, Texas.

A memorial service will be held at Callaway-Jones Funeral Home in Bryan on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 2:00. His body was donated to Texas A&M School of Medicine. Internment in the Aggie Field of Honor will be held at a future date during a private family service.

May his life be a blessing to all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Aggieland Humane Society, 5359 Leonard Rd., Bryan, TX 77807; St. Francis Episcopal Church, 1101 Rock Prairie Rd., College Station, TX 77845; or the Texas A&M Foundation. 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840. Please designate gifts “In Memory of John R. Vilas ’53” in the memo line of the check. To donate online, go to www.txamfoundation.com/give,  select General Memorial; and select this gift is in honor of someone special.