Floryan Leon Centilli, Jr (Tex, F.L., Leon, Jr or Dad), age 84, was born in Del Rio Texas, the third of eight children on January 28, 1923. He departed this portion of his life journey on April 10, 2007 after a gallant sixteen year battle with congestive heart failure. His will to live and enjoy was impeccable especially at his beloved C-Bar-8 Ranch.He was preceded in death by his father, Floryan Leon Centilli, Sr and his mother, Mary Pauline Draeger Centilli, two brothers, William Draeger Centilli, Sr, Harold Alan Centilli and a sister, Florine Carrie Centilli Brown; four brother-in-laws and three sister-in-laws. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mildred Lorena Willinger Centilli, three daughters, Peggy, Dorothy and Mary Kay of Austin, Texas and three sons, Michael and Joseph of Dripping Springs, Texas and Charles and his wife, Janet of Ruidoso, New Mexico. He is also survived by four brothers and their wives, Frank Robert Centilli, Sr., John Douglas Centilli, Gerald Wayne Centilli, and Patrick Henry Centilli; and one other sister-in law. He leaves behind to honor his memory numerous nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews.His impressionable childhood years were of a world depression transitioning in his late teens to a world at war. But even in these most trying of times, he managed to letter three years in high school football for the Wildcats of Del Rio High after the morning and evening milking of the family's sixteen Jerseys. Being the second oldest boy, he stepped up and was a major help to his family not only working the family place in Del Rio but harvesting everything from carrots to corn on their property in Quemado Valley, Texas when a bunch of carrots was selling for less than two cents during the thirties in this border town area. He was a good student and was hired as a young seventeen year old to help survey the runways that would become Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio. He also worked on call as a substitute when needed for the US Post Office there. After graduation from high school, he spent the next 4.5 years in service for the U.S. first at basic training at Fort Belvoir, Virginia and The University of Kentucky at Lexington where he acquired some undergraduate college hours, culminating in the European theatre of WWII in Iceland with the Army Corps of Engineering where he was known for his keen eye and marksmanship with a rifle. Tex as he was known in the Army rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant before being discharged on Valentine's Day, 1946. During these war years, he met the love of his life, Mildred Lorena Willinger, the younger sister of his life-long army buddy, Bill. They were married on November 4, 1946 and spent the first thirty years of a 60+ year marriage in Del Rio, Texas raising three daughters and three sons. Tex re-established his work relationship with the US Postal Service and the dedication, sincerity, honesty, enthusiasm and tenacity he brought to his private life was a bonus to all in his chosen career in the Post Office. He began as postal carrier walking miles with his leather mail bag slung over his shoulder not once but twice a day (mail originally was delivered in the morning and afternoon) in the heat and dust of Del Rio. He worked his way up to clerk behind the counter before finally ending his 30 yr career with the postal service as the postal supervisor at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio for sixteen years before retirement.The next 31 years, he and Millie's life together would be at their beloved C-Bar-8 Ranch in the Texas Hill Country west of Austin where he took great pride in checking out his cows and calves, walking his fence lines with a good dog, adding to his extensive eagles, coin/stamp/ trains/ and music collections or enjoying a quick dip in the pool he added. He brought with him to the Hill Country his extensive gardening knowledge he had honed in Del Rio with roses, irises, day lilies, strawberries and fruit trees being his forte. And his call to the Postal Service was not over. After moving to the Hill County he ran a contract mail route for twelve years enjoying every moment and each person he met along the way. This past Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007, he was still full of post office stories while he colored the current batch of Easter eggs.To say Tex lived up to his nickname was an understatement ----he only wore boots and Stetsons, loved his trucks, bar-b-ques, and lively political conversations. He was always ready to travel, to visit with family and friends, spent time in his barn where his carpentry talents became realities in many a porch swing, outdoor picnic table or bench. He was a Western movie" officionado" whether it was an old John Wayne or a new Walker Texas Ranger; Leon was ready for the ride.He passed on a tradition of family candy recipes and made the best batch of divinity in all kinds of weather with his fudge, date nut and pralines known to all who ever tasted a sweetstick of C-Bar-8 Country Candy. And he relished those three-egg omelets in the morning topped off with onions, tomatoes and his ever-present jalepenos. He was an avid football, basketball and baseball fan ---gosh Dad we got through another March madness together. We say not goodbye to a passionate, patriotic American who relished each and every cook-out and holiday (each one was special) but say only we will see you later as a man whose family and friends came first. To the best: A Good Heart and a True Gentle Man in every sense of the word, we miss you already but oh the memories ---we are most grateful to have shared our lives with you. A Rosary will be said 7:00 PM Friday at Crofts Funeral Home, Blanco. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Saturday, April 14 at Crofts Funeral Home, Blanco with burial to follow in the Blanco Cemetery.Memorials may be given to American Disabled Veterans or St Joseph's Indian School.