Sam Dolce August 21, 1925 - January 29, 2013

Sam Dolce, 87, of Port Neches passed away at the Medical Center of Southeast Texas on Tuesday, January 29, 2013. He was born on August 21, 1925 to Angelina San Angelo and Peter Dolce in Port Arthur, Texas. He served in the United States Marine Corp during WWII in the Fourth Division, they where called the "Fighting Four". Sam was a lifelong resident of the area and a member of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Port Neches and a member of the Italian American Cultural Club, where he was instrumental in developing the Wall of Honor. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council in Port Neches. Sam was very active in his early years at St. Joseph Catholic Church by donating a lot of his time at the church. He was a master craftsman and could build or fix anything, his favorite saying was he could fix anything but a broken heart. He was active in the Gulf Bowling League, a lifetime member of Hughen School and a member of Sertoma Club. He was very active in coaching the St. James Redskins and Bishop Byrne Shamrocks. One of his favorite pastimes was baseball. He was politically involved in the local elections and donated his time in campaigning for individuals. He and his late wife Teet where one of the first members of the Pompano Club, where they danced until her death. They both loved to square dance in their early years. He was a very kind and caring person that would help anyone. He retired from Gulf Oil as an insulator in 1973 with over 26 years of service. Sam spent countless hours enjoying watching his grandsons sporting events. He loved to fish and deer hunt with his family and friends. Visitation will be on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM with a vigil service to be held at 7:00 PM at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home in Groves. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Port Neches at 2:00 PM Thursday, January 31, 2013. Rev. Msgr. Bennie Patillo and Rev. Thomas Dolce will serve as con-celebrant. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Mary Aileen "Teet" Dolce. Sam is survived by his daughters, Debbie Carter and husband, Donny of Port Arthur, Texas, Laurie Messina and husband Tom of Beaumont, Texas, grandchildren, Kaleb Carter and wife Sunni, Matthew Messina and Daniel Messina along with his sisters Virginia Moore and husband Tom of Richmond, Texas, Rose Ann Brocato of Beaumont, Texas, his brother, Tommy Dolce of Port Arthur, Texas as well as several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Hughen Center or St. Elizabeth Catholic Church.