Obituaries

September 2003 Obituary Listings

Jessica Martinez Aguinaga, age 7, of Lytle passed away in San Antonio on Aug. 29, 2003. She was born in San Antonio, April 13, 1996. Survivors include her parents, Conrado Jr. and Gloria Aguinaga; brother, Conrado Aguinaga III; sisters, Margaret, Valerie and Rebecca Aguinaga, all of Lytle. Funeral service was at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at First Baptist Church, Lytle, with Pastor Salvador Molina officiating.

Romaldo M. Aguirre, age 66, passed away Sept. 2, 2003, at his home in Castroville. He was born in Castroville, Feb. 18, 1937. Visitation was from 12 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4, with Rosary recited at 7 p.m. at Tondre Guinn Funeral Home. The Funeral Mass was celebrated Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Louis Catholic Church by Rev. Jim Conway. Interment followed the Mass at St. Louis Catholic Cemetary.

Brian Martin Alfaro of Natalia passed away Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2003, at the age of 2 years, 10 months in San Antonio. Brian was born Oct. 15, 2000, in Hondo, the son of Jose Martin Sanchez and Judith E. Alfaro. He is survived by his parents; brothers, Luis Felipe Rodriguez and Jose Rodolfo Alfaro; sisters, Mayra Judith Rodriguez and Melanie Jimena Alfaro. A prayer service was held Friday, Sept. 5, at the Guinn-Horger Chapel. Graveside service was Saturday, Sept. 6, 2 p.m., at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Devine.

Carrie Marie Allen, age 70, of Devine passed away Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2003, in San Antonio. She was born in Lampasses, Jan. 18, 1933. Graveside service was at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at Evergreen Cemetery lead by John Bishop.

Francisco Longoria Alvarez, age 70, of Hondo passed away Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2003, at his home in Hondo. He was born on Dec. 3, 1932, in Utopia. Funeral service was held on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2003. Mass was held at 11 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Church in Hondo.

Isiah Omar Balderrama, age 6, of San Antonio passed away Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2003. He was born in Bellevue, NE, May 10, 1997. Survivors are his parents, Adrian and Jennifer Balderrama of San
Antonio. Funeral service was at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 12, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church with Msgr. Adolfo Valdivia-Aguirre officiating. Interment was in San Manuel Cemetery, Macdona.

James Nelson Berleth was born Oct. 10, 1937, in Oklahoma City, OK. No other information was provided.

Jim Berlithe of Houston, passed away Sept. 15, 2003. Graveside service was held Saturday, Sept. 20, 2 p.m. at Hondo Cemetery, Oakwood Section.

Master Sgt. Joseph W. Britsch USMC (Ret), 86, fought gallantly throughout the final battle in his war against leukemia, until he succumbed on September 3, 2003, at his home in California. Joe was laid to rest, with full military honors provided by the U.S. Marine Corp, in the Hondo Cemetery on September 6, 2003.

P. Joe Caballero Sr., age 63, of Floydada, a former resident of Hondo, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2003. He was born on June 9, 1940, in
Harligen. Funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at the Getsemani Assembly of God in Floydada with Rev. Ray Gonzales officiating. Burial was at the Floydada Cemetery.

Roger Dale Carlton, 72, of Lytle passed away Sunday, September 28, 2003, in San Antonio. He was born in Vega on April 19, 1931. Funeral service was held Wednesday, Oct 1, at 2 p.m. in the First Baptist Church of LaCoste led by Bro. Cliff Barden.

Oscar C. Cook passed away in Lytle, on Sunday, Sept. 28, at the age of 90. He was born in Rogers on May 8, 1913. A graveside service was held Wednesday, Oct. 1, at Evergreen Cemetery in Devine.

Luciano Flores, age 55, of Atascosa died Sept. 1, 2003, in San Antonio. He was born January 28, 1948, in LaCoste. A funeral service was held at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 5, at St. Andrews Catholic Church. Interment followed in Lytle Latin Cemetery.

Barbara Louise Lippard Gregory was born on Feb. 24, 1927, in Taft and passed away on Sept. 19, 2003, after a struggle with cancer at the age of 76. Funeral service was at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the Church of Christ in Three Rivers. Interment followed after the service at the Three Rivers
Cemetery.

Ida Marie Steubing Haby, age 61, of Rio Medina passed away Sept. 12, 2003, in San Antonio. She was born Dec. 15, 1941, in San Antonio. Visitation was held Sunday, Sept. 14, at Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home and Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass was held Monday, Sept. 15, at 10 a.m. Both services were at St. Louis Catholic Church. Entombment was at St. Louis Garden Mausoleum in St. Louis Catholic Cemetery, Castroville.

Blanca G. Henandez of Devine entered into rest on Sept. 27, 2003, in Hondo, at the age of 63. Visitation began at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, at Hondo Funeral Home. Prayer service was held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1, and funeral service was held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, both services were at Betania Mission Baptist Church Devine. Burial followed at Black Creek Cemetery, Devine.

Guadalupe Hernandez, age 83, of Hondo passed away Sept. 27, 2003. He was born on Aug. 12, 1920, in New Braunfels. Rosary was recited Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. and Funeral Mass was Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 2 p.m., both at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Hondo. Interment was at Hondo Cemetery, Guadalupe Section.

Libby M. Jasik, age 89, of Devine passed away Sunday, Sept. 7, 2003, in Boerne. She was born in Colorado County on January 6, 1914. Funeral service was at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Interment followed in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery with Msgr Adolfo Valdivia-Aguirre.

William "Bill" I. Johnston Jr., age 74, of Castroville passed away Sept. 10, 2003, in Hondo. He was born Jan. 13, 1929, in Houston. The family held a private memorial service.

Genevieve Carmen Juarez, age 41, of Kerrville and formerly of Devine, passed away Saturday, Sept. 13, 2003, in San Antonio. She was born in San
Antonio, Jan. 19, 1962. Funeral service was at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church with Msgr. Adolfo Valdivia-Aguirre officiating. Interment was in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery.

Valeska Hansmann Kinsey, age 86, of Castroville passed away Sept. 3, 2003, in Castroville. She was born May 25, 1917, in San Antonio. Visitation as held Friday, Sept. 5, at the Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home. A graveside service was held Saturday at 10 a.m. at San Fernando Cemetery #3.

Johnie Kolafa, age 77, of San Antonio passed away Sept. 16, 2003, in Castroville. He was born June 9, 1926, in East Bernard. Visitation was held Thursday, Sept. 18, 5 to 8 p.m., with the funeral
service at 7 p.m. at Tondre-Guinn Funeral Home in Castroville. Cremation followed.

Charles Wayman McAnelly, age 76, passed away Sept. 9, 2003, after a long struggle with Parkinson's disease. He was born on Jan. 11, 1927, in Yancey.
Visitation was at the Guinn-Horger Chapel Friday, Sept. 11. Funeral service was Saturday, Sept. 13, 2 p.m., at the Yancey Methodist Church with interment at the Yancey Cemetery.

Alfredo Medellin, age 89, of Devine passed away Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2003, in San Antonio. He was born in Bigfoot on Sept. 7, 1913. Funeral service was at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 8, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church with Msgr. Adolfo Valdivia-Aguirre officiating. Interment followed in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery.

Antonio Moncada, age 66, passed away Sept. 24, 2003. He was born on Nov. 11, 1936, in Yancey. Rosary was held Saturday, Sept. 27, at 10 a.m. followed by the Funeral Mass, both at the Holy Cross Catholic Church in D'Hanis. Burial was at the
Yancey Cemetery.

Marvin Melton Muennink of Hondo passed away Monday, Sept. 8, 2003, at the age of 94. Marvin was born June 23, 1909, in rural Hondo. Visitation was held from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Guinn-Horger Funeral Home. Funeral service was held Friday, Sept. 12, 2 p.m., at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hondo. Burial followed in the Hondo Cemetery, Oakwood Section.

James Jay Nichols, age 85, of D'Hanis passed away Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, in Hondo. He and his wife had recently moved from Casper, WY, to D'Hanis. Jay was born April 30, 1918, in Shamrock, OK. A Memorial Service was held Thursday, Sept. 11, at 1 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Sabinal.

With great sadness we announce that our husband and father, Oswaldo V. Nira, passed away on September 11, 2003, at the age of 72. Oswaldo Nira was born and raised in Hondo, On Sept.16, 2003, Deacon Oswaldo Nira's Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. John Vianney Catholic Parish in Round Rock, by Bishop Gregory Aymond, Father Samuel Hose and Father Rick Aguilar as well as the Diaconate community of the Diocese of Austin, seven of whom served as pall bearers, Deacon Director Klement and Deacons Duecker, Ham, Hithe, Gonzales, Prewitt and Smetana. Interment, with the Highest military honors, was held Oct. 1, 2003, at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C.

Tracy Ann Patteson, 32, of Moore, passed away Sunday, September 28, 2003, at her residence. Funeral service was held Wednesday, October 1, at 4 p.m. in the Chapel of the Hurley Funeral Home, Devine. Interment followed in Evergreen Cemetery.

Monico S. Perez, USN (retired), age 79, passed away on Monday, Aug. 11, 2003. He was born May 4, 1924, in Hondo. Mr. Perez was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with full military honors.

Diamantina Lopez Reyes, age 73, of D'Hanis passed away Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, in San Antonio. Diama was born June 7, 1930, in Hondo. Rosary was recited Monday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m. and Funeral Mass was held Tuesday, Sept. 9, 10 a.m., both at Holy Cross Catholic Church in D'Hanis. Interment was in San Francisco Cemetery, D'Hanis.

Blake D. Rundell, age 26, of Clovis, NM, died Friday, Sept. 12, 2003, in Farwell. He was born Nov. 4, 1976, in Hereford. Funeral service was at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 15, at the First Baptist Church of Bovina with Rev. Aaron Reed officiating. Interment was in the Bovina Cemetery.

Raymond Leo Salzman, age 93, a lifelong resident of La Coste, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2003, in San Antonio. Raymond was born Aug. 2, 1910,
in La Coste. Visitation was Wednesday, Oct. 1, and the Rosary was recited at 6:30 p.m. at the Tondre- Guinn Funeral Home. Funeral Mass was Thursday, Oct. 2, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in La Coste. Interment at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Cemetery followed the mass.

George Robert Scheuerlein of the Alamo Area SKP Coop in D'Hanis passed away Sept. 21, 2003. He was born Feb. 24, 1934, in Rochester. A private service was held.

Wyatt Hope Stephens, age 77, of San Antonio passed away Sept. 23, 2003, in Castroville. He was born Nov. 1, 1925, in Kingsville. Graveside service, led by Rev. Jane Florence, was held Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 1 p.m. at the Castroville Community Cemetery in Castroville. The U.S. Army provided military honors.

Raul J. Villarreal Sr., age 55, passed away Sept. 19, 2003. He was born Jun. 10, 1948, in D'Hanis. Rosary was recited Sunday, Sept. 21, and Funeral Mass was held Monday, Sept. 22, at 10 a.m., at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Interment was at Hondo Cemetery, Oakwood Section.

Claud Laxton Winters of Bigfoot passed away Sunday, Sept. 7, 2003, in Jourdanton at the age of 87. He was born in Bigfoot on Jan. 5, 1916. Graveside service was at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, at Longview Cemetery with Pastor Keith Dennis officiating.

John Emory "Jay" Wright went to ride with God and James on Sept. 6, 2003, at his ranch in Kyote. He was born Oct. 11, 1934, in Refugio and moved to Kyote when he was eight years old. Visitation was at St. Matthew's Catholic Church in Jourdanton with a rosary at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Funeral service was at St. Matthew's Catholic Church at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10. Interment was at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Devine.

Pedro H. Ybarra, age 71, of Hondo passed away Monday, Sept. 8, 2003. Pedro was born June 28, 1932, in Hondo. Visitation was held Thursday, Sept. 11, 5 to 8 p.m., and Rosary was recited at 7 p.m. at the Guinn-Horger Chapel. Funeral Mass was held Friday, Sept. 12, 10 a.m., at St. John's Catholic Church in Hondo.