Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Sandra Jean Pullin, "Sissy" to her family, was born January 5, 1943, to the late R. E. "Griff' Griffith and Frankie "B" Thomas Griffith. Sandra attended Woodsboro schools' grades 1-12, graduating in 1961. Upon graduation, she briefly attended Texas A&I Kingsville. On September 7, 1963, she married her best friend and love of her life, Allen Pullin. The first assignment of their young military career was to Sheppard Air Force base in Wichita Falls, Texas. They would later be based at Clark AFB in the Philippine Islands and Reese AFB in Lubbock, Texas. Not long after a return to civilian life, Sandra's true passion began. She gave birth to her son Gregory Allen and, subsequently, to her...

MICHAEL LANCE DEASON, D.V.M. January 17, 1940 was an eventful day in Corpus Christi, Texas. The city experienced rare freezing rain and snow, and Michael Lance Deason was born to Winton and Nettie Frank (Holland) Deason. Michael was the only child of that union. He passed away April 10, 2024, after a brief illness. Mike graduated from Roy Miller High School in 1957. He spent a year at Del Mar College and then transferred to Abilene Christian College where he graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor's degree in Range Science. He worked for the Soil Conservation Service in Wellington, Texas where he was introduced to his future wife, Margaret Rose Sisk, by a mutual friend. They were married...

Elizabeth Elizabeth Joyce Joyce (Hopes) (Hopes) Clarke Clarke, 75, of Corpus Christi, passed away on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Funeral Services will be held at 11 AM Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Cook-Butler Funeral Home & Chapel 316 Peabody St. Edna, TX 77957. Burial will follow at Kerr Cemetery. Final arrangements entrusted to Cook-Butler Funeral Home 361-782-3821.

Juan "Pokey" Martinez Jr. ,52 of Woodsboro, Tx passed away peacefully on Sunday March24,2024 with his loving parents at his side. Juan Martinez Jr. known to everyone as "Pokey" was born October 31,1971 in Refugio ,tx to Juan and Rose Martinez of Woodsboro. He spent all his life in Woodsboro where he enjoyed spending time with his family and many friends. Pokey was devoted member of his church, loved cooking, going out dancing, and most importantly helping anyone in any way he could, he knew no stranger and made a friend of everyone. Anyone who had the honor of knowing Pokey knew what a true friend and great person he was, and at the end of the day there was always a great memory to be made....

Christine Champion McKinney, of Odem, Texas went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday March 14, 2024. Christine was born at Sacul, Nacogdoches County, Texas on October 17, 1933, to Lester and Etha Belle Champion. Christine was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, her parents and her half-brother Bill. She is survived by her two children; a son, Mitchell "Butch" McKinney, and a daughter, LaRue (Ralph) Stephens, both of Odem, Texas; three grandchildren, Lori (James) Sisson, Rory (Sarah) Stephens, and Casey (Bobbie) Kite; and four great-grandchildren, Christine Grace Sisson, James Garret Sisson, Roger Glenn Stephens, and Rigdon Dale Stephens. Online condolences may be...

Rev. Deacon Tiburcio "Butcho" T. Garcia, 87, of Kingsville, Texas passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by family on March 10, 2024. He was born on November 14, 1936, in Alice, Texas to the late Ventura and Luz Garcia. He was an active member of St. Martin Catholic Church. He was a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He will always be remembered for his unconditional love and his caring heart. He loved intimate family gatherings and vacationing. He is preceded in death by his wife, Norma L Garcia, son, Joel T. Garcia, his parents, Ventura, and Luz Garcia, and one sister, Cidelia (Johnny) Rivera. Rev. Deacon Tiburcio "Butcho" T. Garcia was ordained to the...

Walter Leo Daniel, 87, passed away March 6, 2024. He was born on March 11, 1936, in Duncan Oklahoma to the late Walter Grady and Polly Hall Daniel. He was a Corpus Christi Firefighter, retired after over 40+ years of service. Walter is survived by his daughter Mary Bridgette Dimbleby of Corpus Christi and niece JoAnn Clawson of Cuero; 5 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. Visitation will be Monday, March 11, 2024, Moore Funeral Home Chapel, from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Services will be Tuesday, March 12, 2024, Moore Funeral Home Chapel at 10:00 a.m. Burial to follow at Palms Memorial Gardens 4335 Co. Rd. Taft, Tx 78390. Services entrusted to Moore Funeral...

Benjamin Louis Koliba, 84, passed away Monday, February 26, 2024, in Victoria, after a brief illness. He born August 28, 1939, in Corpus Christi to Julia (Marek) and Edmund G. Koliba, Sr. After serving in the US Army, he enjoyed a career in aviation, serving as a commercial pilot for Texas International, Braniff and Continental Airlines in Houston until his retirement. Benny married Doris Sykora in 2001, and they enjoyed many happy years together in Cuero until her passing in 2018. Benny enjoyed flying planes, gardening, taking daily walks, and was a devoted member of St. Michael's Catholic Church where he was a faithful member of the Adoration team and of Knights of Columbus. Survivors...

Howard Lee Cave was born on May 30, 1940, at Spohn Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas, to James Howard Cave and Clara Collins Cave. His life ended on February 26th 2024 at Spohn Hospital in Alice, Texas, after struggling with a series of serious illnesses. He packed a lot of living in the time and space between these two dates. I have been fortunate enough to share the second half of it. I remembered Butch Cave as a jokester at Baker Jr. High and W.B.Ray High School and was amazed to discover in 1973 that Howard Cave, Ph.D. would be coming to teach Sociology at the newly opened Texas A&I University in Corpus Christi, Texas. Howard and Mary Bernice Teasley married in 1960 and had two...

Irene Ann Havelka Ashley, a third generation Czech Texan, passed away February 26th at the age of 89 with her family by her side. She was born on October 4, 1934 to Emil and Mary Havelka. Being raised in a Czech community, Irene spent many times at Moravian Hall in Corpus Christi attending dances and family reunions. She graduated from Incarnate Word High School in Corpus Christi and moved to Houston to start a banking career. Irene moved back to Corpus in 1958 and met the love of her life, Irvin D (Bud) Ashley. They married in 1959 and had 4 boys. Irene started her banking career as a runner and retired as an Executive Vice President of First Commerce Bank in Corpus Christi. Her career was...

Oren C. "Buddy" Remmers, age 89, died Tuesday , February 20, 2024 at Seton Hospital in Kyle, Texas after a lengthy illness. He was born to Otto and Alice (Kasper) Remmers on March 10, 1934 on the family farm in Gonzales County, Texas, just southwest of Shiner.. He attended Mengers country school near Shiner, riding his horse to and from as his mode of transportation. He attended Shiner High School where he played on Shiner High's first varsity football team and later graduated as class valedictorian. Oren or "Buddy" as his many friends called him, enrolled at Texas A&M University where he majored in Agricultural Education. He was a member of Air Force ROTC in the Texas A&M...

Violeta (Vi) Sarabia Grady passed away on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Vi graduated from Brownsville High School in 1954; St. Mary's School of Nursing in Galveston, Texas in 1957, and Saint Mary College in Xavier, Kansas. She practiced Nursing in Brownsville, Texas for the Cameron County Health Department then taught Cardiovascular Nursing at the Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas where she and her students participated in the first heart transplant in the United States. Vi and her husband moved to Richmond, Virginia where she participated in the career ladder program at the Medical College of Virginia. The family then moved to Satellite Beach, Florida where she...

Robert Joseph Gonzales, passed away February 8, 2024 He was born August 15, 1952. Survived by his children: Stephanie Medina (m. Gabriel Medina), Robin Badillo (m. David Badillo), Sarah Rodriguez (m. Joseph Rodriguez), Robert J Gonzales, Ryan M. Gonzales Grandchild, April J. Badillo, Brother Butch Gonzales, and stepchildren Stacye McCain, Nathan Howry, and Maegan Alexander. Preceded in death by his parents: Adolfo Gonzales and Cayetana Gonzales, sister Brenda Brinson, and granddaughter Maria Badillo Born and raised in Refugio, Texas, Robert went on to graduate college and work in the X-Ray and Radiology field in Corpus Christi, Texas. Robert was highly regarded in his line of work and...

William Van Bohach (Bill or Bo) known to many passed away on Feb. 1, 2024 at Home. He was born Apr. 20, 1941 in Jourdanton, TX. He grew up in Nordheim, TX and graduated in 1959 from Nordheim High School. After graduation he started working at the Corpus Christi Grain Exchange on Sept. 11, 1959. He volunteered for the draft in 1963, and served in the US Army. He was sent to Vietnam and was awarded the Expert Rifle Ribbon. After being honorably discharged on Oct. 2, 1969, he returned to the States and returned to work at the Corpus Christi Grain Exchange. Sept. 11, 2024 he would have been 65 years with the Corpus Christi Grain Exchange. He is survived by his son Chad (Cathy) of Cuero,...

Jeanette Hopkins Gandy, 89, of Edna, Texas, went to see her Lord and Savior on January 21, 2024, in her home at Morales. She was precious in the sight of the Lord. Jeanette was born in Morales Texas to Archie and Lena Flournoy on May 23, 1934. Her family relocated to Corpus Christi where she grew up and met and married Robert P Hopkins on Feb 18, 1949. They had three children D'Ann, Bobbie and Jimmy during their 52 years of marriage. Robert passed away in 2001 in Woodsboro, Texas. Jeanette married her current husband Winfred Gandy on August 26, 2006 in Woodsboro. They later moved to her beloved "land" around Morales. Jeanette was a faithful wife, mother and follower of Christ. After...

David Reynaldo Hinojosa EDINBURG - David Reynaldo Hinojosa, 75, passed away Saturday, January 13, 2024 at Edinburg Regional Medical Center. Memorial Funeral Home of Edinburg is in charge of arrangments. https://www.memorialfuneral.com/

Edward J. Zinsmeister lived life to the fullest and never met a stranger. Born and raised in San Antonio, he attended Central Catholic High School and graduated from St Mary's University in 1964 where he was a member of the Tau Delta Sigma Fraternity. He later received an advanced degree in banking from SMU. He began his banking career in 1959 as a part time teller. After graduating from St Mary's, he became a bank examiner for the Texas Dept of Banking. In 1968, Ed moved his family to Corpus Christi to work at Corpus Christi Bank and Trust. He took a break from banking to join the oil and gas industry as President of Tejas Oil and Gas. The collapse of the savings and loan industry lured...

After waging a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease, Sylvia Foran passed away peacefully while sleeping. Sylvia's parents, Gretchen and Merlin Sarphie raised her in the southern Mississippi town of McComb. After graduation from the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Sylvia moved to Corpus Christi where she taught at Meadowbrook Elementary School for several years. She met and soon married Bill Foran and it was in Corpus where they raised two boys. With malice towards none and charity to all, Sylvia made dozens of truly close friends in Corpus and then in New Braunfels, their final residence. It is not hyperbole to describe Sylvia Foran as a person who did not have a mean bone in...

In Loving Memory of Armando Ray Elizondo, Jr. "Baby Ray" Ray passed away on January 3rd surrounded by his loved ones. He was born November 30, 1968 in Refugio, Texas to Armando Ray Elizondo, Sr. and Mary Elizondo. Family and friends will gather for visitation on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM with a funeral service at 2:00 PM at Grace Funeral Home, 2401 Houston Hwy. in Victoria, Texas. He was a loving father, avid fisherman and outdoorsman, and a beloved son, brother and friend. Ray had an enthusiasm for life that was evident in his love for fishing, hunting, and being in the outdoors. His happy place was anywhere he could do some fishing. Ray was also a Dallas Cowboys...

Mary Ann Reed, 80, passed away January 2. 2024. She was born April 25, 1943 in Sinton, Texas. Mary was a loving wife, mother, sister, nanny, great nanny, wonderful cook, devoted Baptist and had a beautiful soprano voice. She enjoyed singing in the choir, riding her bike, and attending school functions for her daughters. She will be loved and missed by her family. We have comfort in knowing she has joined our dad in heaven. She is preceded in death by her parents John and Hazel Gibson House and husband David. Mary is survived by her daughters Melodie (Rusty) Hoyle and Diana Reed; sisters Laura Schlemmer and Terry House; Three grandchildren Justin, Megan, and Sydney and three...

Corpus Christi: Johnny Raymond Knezek, age 75, passed away Thursday, December 7, 2023. He was a millwright by trade and worked in the supply industry locally. He enjoyed floundering, cooking, singing, dancing and gardening and was known for his citrus expertise. Survivors: wife, Sanda Knezek; daughter, Janice Knezek; son, Michael Knezek; step-daughters, Melissa Lopez and Marissa Rodriguez; sisters, Mary Ann Langhoff and Linda Dolezal (Marvin); brothers, Walter Knezek, Jr. (Lorena) and Frank Knezek (Irene). Preceded in death by: parents; first wife, Darlene Knezek; brother, Harvey Knezek. Visitation 10:00 a.m., rosary at 10:30 a.m. with Funeral Mass 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 11, 2023 at...