Dudley- Theodore "Ted" Podles, died July 23 after a short illness.

Born November 29, 1922, in Uxbridge, the son of Joseph and Stella (Holda) Podles. He is survived by his wife, Helen (Gressak). They would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on September 20, 2017.  He is survived by two children, Karen D'Alessandro and her husband Gary of Shrewsbury and Thomas Podles and his wife Janine of Webster and daughter in law Cynthia Podles of Sturbridge. He leaves 7 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by son David, sisters Eleanor Laffey, Nathalie Waryias and brothers Francis, Edward, and Walter.

 Ted worked at the former Whitin Machine Works from 1941 to 1953. He retired from Pratt -Whitney Aircraft Co, experimental department in 1988. Ted was a three sport athlete at Uxbridge High School and captained the 1940-41 basketball team. He played basketball and baseball throughout the Blackstone Valley. He played baseball for the Uxbridge/ Worsted baseball team in the Blackstone Valley League. He bowled in the men's industrial league at the Mohegan Bowling Alley where he had the distinction of being the league's only 90 year old player.  Ted was a WWII Army veteran and served as a T/5 technician, fifth grade, with the 812 chemical company. He served in Tunisia, North Africa, and Italy. After VJ Day, he was deployed to the Pacific via the Panama Canal on the S.S.Seastar. He served on the islands of Guam, Saipan and was honorably discharged from Fort Devens in November 1945. He was also a former member of the VFW in Uxbridge. Upon retirement he enjoyed deep sea fishing out of Salisbury, MA on the Challenger. Ted and Helen made many trips to the Hawaiian Islands, Florida, and California to visit family and enjoyed traveling with Collette Tours.  Ted lived and died with dignity and was loved and admired by his family and friends. He will be greatly missed.

The funeral will be held Thursday, July 27, 2017 from the Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, 48 School St., Webster, MA with a Mass at 10 am in St. Andrew Bobola Church, Dudley, MA and burial with military honors in St. Joseph Garden of Peace, Webster.  Calling hours at the funeral home will be Wednesday, July 26, 2017, 4pm-7pm.  Donations may be made in his memory to the St. Andrew Bobola Church, PO Box 98, Dudley, MA 01671 or the Wounded Warriors Project.  A guest book is available at www.shaw-majercik.com where you can post a condolence or light a candle.

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