Funerals, obituaries, deaths, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

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Saturday, March 11, 2000

AUSTIN
Joe Dudley Austin, 85, passed away on Thursday, March 9, 2000 in Corpus Christi, Texas. He is survived by his two sons, Leslie Joe Austin of Austin, Texas; William Dudley Austin of Corpus Christi, Texas; a brother, Dr. James W. Austin, DDS of Corpus Christi, Texas; his nephew Donald Austin of College Station, Texas; and four grandchildren Alita Alexandra, and Marisa Austin of Corpus Christi, Texas and Michael Austin of Austin, Texas.
Joe was born on March 5, 1915 in Cottage Grove, Tennessee, to Mr. and Mrs. D.E. Austin, and came to Corpus Christi with his family in 1924 and later moved to San Antonio, Texas where he graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. An avid sports fan all his life. Joe played fast pitch softball and was known for his bowling ability, having bowled the first perfect score 300 game in Corpus Christi.
He proudly served his country during World War II as a Master Sergeant in the Finance Dept. of the U.S. Army. After the war he returned to Corpus Christi and began his career in bookkeeping and office management.
Joe was a member of the Church of Christ and lived a life of service to his Lord and family. He was known for his sense of humor, his kind gernerosity, and his love of children.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkway Presbyterian Church Endownment Fund, Christus Spohn Hospice Service, The American Cancer Society or the charity of your choice.
Graveside Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday at Seaside Memorial Park followed by a Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. held at Parkway Presbyterian Church, 3707 Santa Fe, Corpus Christi, Texas.

COOPER
Helen E. Cooper passed away Friday, March 10, 2000 at the age of 93. She was a volunteer at Spohn Hospital for many years.
She is preceded in death by her husband Samuel H. Cooper.
Helen is survived by her daughter Barbara Kurtz of Corpus Christi, Texas; granddaughters Dale Kurtz-Stewart (Gill), and Marcy Kurtz both of Houston, Texas; grandson Jeffrey Kurtz of Victoria, Texas; great-grandson Samuel W. Stewart of Houston, Texas; and dearest friend William Jue of Corpus Christi, Texas.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2000 from 5:00 p.m.- 7:00 pm. at Seaside Funeral Home. Graveside Services will be conducted on Sunday, March 12, 2000 at 2:00 p.m. at Temple Bethel Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.

DENNIS
A memorial service will be held for Stephen Dennis at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 11, 2000 at Second Baptist Church, 6701 So. Staples, Corpus Christi, Texas.
Stephen was born to Wayne and Evalyn Dennis in Corpus Christi on October 11, 1953. Growing up here, he attended schools in Corpus and graduated from Calallen High School. Stephen was a Christian, accepting Christ as a young boy, growing up in Second Baptist Church. He loved his family, his dogs, being outdoors at anytime, and most of all he loved his children, Chris and Sarah. He will be missed, but he will be with us always.
Stephen was a professional beekeeper, and served one year in that capacity in the Peace Corp on an island in the Caribbean. Prior to, and while attending Southwest Texas State University, he worked in MH/MR Care Homes and was responsible for homes in several counties near Austin. He graduated from Southwest Texas University in December 1990, receiving his BA degree in Anthropology (Minor in Sociology). While at SWTSU, he was inducted in the Golden Key National Honor Society, Alpha Kappa Delta Society, and made the Dean's list four times for outstanding academic performance. Changing directions, he worked for several computer related companies in Austin, and worked for Dell Computer just prior to his death.
He is survived by his parents, Wayne and Evalyn Dennis of Corpus Christi; a son, Christopher, and a daughter, Sarah, of Smyrna, Tennessee; two brothers, David (Yvonne) of San Antonio and Brian (Karyn) of Encinal, Texas, and a nephew and two nieces.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Second Baptist Church, Building Fund.

ESQUIVEL
Marta Equivel, age 95 passed away on March 9, 2000. She was resident of Corpus Christi, Texas. Mrs. Esquivel was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who will be greatly missed by her family.
She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Juan R. Esquivel of Corpus Christi, Texas; three daughters, Esperanza Obregon of Houston, Texas, Adela Bickford of Aiken, S.C., and Olga Esquivel of Corpus Christi, Texas; one son, Gabriel Escobar of Corpus Christi, Texas; seven grandsons, and ten granddaughters.
Visitation is scheduled for Sunday, March 12, 2000 beginning at 3:00pm until 9:00pm
at Memory Gardens Funeral Home with a rosary to begin at 7:00pm that same evening. Funeral Service will be held on Monday, March 13, 2000 at Memory Gardens Funeral Home Chapel beginning at 10:00am. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.

GILL
MARSHALL, TEXAS - Dan Elbert Gill, 71, passed away on March 9, 2000 in Marshall, Texas. He was born February 23, 1929 in Pampa, Texas to James Darr Gill and Bessie Idell Mayo Gill.
He attended A&L College in Kingsville, Texas. He served in the Army Air Corp. He married Linda Ruth Dunn of November 4, 1962 in Kingsville, Texas. He was a Machinist for the Civil Service at Aradmac for 20 years at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. Mr. Gill was a member of Central Baptist of Marshall, Texas.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Gill of Marshall, Texas; three sons and daughters-in-law, Walter Dan and Melissa Gill of Longview, Texas, Joe Loyd and Cathy Gill of Prairieville, Louisiana, James Arden and Brenda Gill of Fredricksburg, Indiana; one daughter and son-in-law, Dana Darlene Gill and Steve Hunt of Canyon Lake, Texas; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday evening at the Sullivan Funeral Home 100 E. Travis St. in Marshall, Texas.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday March 11, 2000 at Jacksonville City Cemetery in Jacksonville, Texas with Dr. John White officiating.
Interment to follow at Jacksonville City in Jacksonville, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Central Baptist Church Marshall or The Gideons.

JAEGER
Irene Mary Hill Jaeger, 93, passed away Wednesday, March 8, 2000. She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, and was a retired office manager in Manufacturing.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert Jaeger, Sr., sons, Albert Jaeger, Jr., and Eugene Jaeger, and two grandchildren.
She is survived by daughters, Joan (William) Steffan of Poway, California, and Lois (Gerald) Willett of Sylvania, Ohio, daughter-in-law, June Jaeger of Tucson, Arizona, Ten grandchildren, and fifteen great grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, March 13, 2000 at Rose Hill Cemetery.
In Lieu of flowers contributions can be made to St. Patrick Catholic Church, 3350 S. Alameda St., Corpus Christi, Texas 78411.

MCGREGOR
August A. McGregor, a farmer/rancher and avid golfer, passed away on Wednesday, March 8, 2000 at the Holmgreen Center. He was 91.
August was born on August 1, 1908 to a pioneer family of Corpus Christi, Texas. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Masonic Lodge #189, South Texas Cattleman's Association and was active in Corpus Christi Golf Association. He was District Governor of Dale Carnegie.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Fanny S. McGregor; son, August William McGregor and his family Shirley Barnhill McGregor, Kathleen & Colleen McGregor; five brothers and a sister.
He is survived by his son John S. (Mary Ann) McGregor of Corpus Christi, Texas; daughter Betty Ann McGregor (Michael) Pamplin of Duncan, Oklahoma; his grandchildren Carolyn Lee McGregor of Houston, Texas; John S. McGregor Jr. of San Antonio, Texas; Christopher Winslow (Amy) Morris of Plano; Shelley McGregor (Mason) Zimmerman, Kirsten Elizabeth (Kevin) Godleski all of Atlanta, Georgia; 8 great-grandchildren; a brother Bill McGregor of Corpus Christi, Texas; and a dear friend Irma Neely.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 10, 2000 at Seaside Funeral Home.
Funeral Services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 11, 2000 at Seaside Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Hulitt Gloer officiating.
Interment will follow at Seaside Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Baptist Learning Center of South Texas, 7000 Ocean Dr., Corpus Christi, Texas 78412.
Pallbearers are Luther Jones, Jimmy Taylor, Ed Hunt, Jerry Weiser, Ken Latta, and A.E. Huggens.

MENDIETA
Erasmo Mendieta, Sr. an army veteran and life long member of Veteran Post 2397, went Home with the Lord on March 8, 2000. He was born in Realitos, Texas on September 16, 1926. He was employed at Reynolds Metals as a pot tender from 1952-1977. He was a loving husband to Eva Mendieta for 55 years; he was also a loving father and grandfather.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. Alfredo and Mauricia Mendieta, his brother, Ovidio Mendieta, and his sisters, Irma Cardona, and Herminia Perez.
Mr. Mendieta is survived by his loving wife, Eva Mendieta; three daughters, Ida (Julian) Martinez, Hilda Mendieta Rodriguez both of Corpus Christi, and Mauricia Mendieta Dixon of Austin; two sons, Erasmo (Mary Lou) Mendieta, Jr. of Austin and Orlando (Isabel) Mendieta of Houston; one brother, Alfredo (Yolanda) Mendieta, Jr. of Alice; two sisters, Maria Cruz Quinones and Alicia (Luis) Ruiz, Sr. both of Corpus Christi; several nieces and nephews; twelve grandchildren, Julian Martinez, Jr., Gene (Leticia) Rodriguez, III, Herlinda Martinez, Maria Eloisa Mendieta, Ida Lina (Robert) Balderas, Patricia Mendieta Williams, Chriselda Martinez, Nora Lynn Martinez, Jennifer Dixon, Adrianna Dixon, Gary Dixon, Allen Dixon, Amanda Mendieta, Christa Mendieta, and seven great grandchildren.
The family will be receiving friends Friday, March 10, 2000 from 1:00 PM until 9:00 PM with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Home, Crosstown Chapel.
Procession will depart at 12:30 PM on Saturday, March 11, 2000.
Rites of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 1:00 PM at St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Interment will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery with Military Honors.
Serving, as pallbearers will be Roberto Quinones, Gene Rodriguez, III, Julian Martinez, Jr., Luis Ruiz, Jr., Ovidio Vela, and Julian Martinez, Sr.
Honorary pallbearers will be Oscar Perez, Sr., Johnny Quinones, Lafayette Williams, III, Darius Magee, Nikolas Balderas, and Pablo Perez, Jr.
The family wishes to acknowledge Dr. Raymond Acebo, Dr. Ray Graf, the emergency
room staff and the CCU 2 staff at Spohn Shoreline.

PEREZ
San Diego, TX - Hortensia G. Perez, 88, passed away Friday, March 10, 2000. She was a long life native of San Diego. Where she taught for 42 years, now retired. She also served in her early years at the First Female Postmaster of the city of San Diego, Texas. She was preceded in death by her husband, Julian G. Perez who pass away.
She is survived by on son-in-law, Dr. William L. Davis of McAllen, Texas; two daughters, Elvie Perez Davis of McAllen, Texas and Leola L. Perez of Austin, Texas; two granddaughter, Kimberly Davis of McAllen, Texas and Raquel Pennington of Austin, Texas; two sister-in-laws, Diana P. Gongora and Blanca G. Perez both from San Diego, Texas. Numerous nieces and nephews.
A rosary will be recited on Sunday, March 12, 2000 at 7:00 P.M. at Mauro P. Garcia Funeral Home of San Diego. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, March 13, 2000 at 10:00 A.M. at St Francis De Paula Catholic Church. Burial will follow at the San Diego Cemetery.

YBARRA
Petra Martinez Ybarra, 76, of Corpus Christi, passed away on Thursday, March 9, 2000.
Her parents Cristoval and Francisca Martinez and a brother, Secundino Martinez, precede her in death.
She is survived by her husband, Jesus Ybarra; three daughters, San Juana Ybarra, Sylvia Watrin and Mary (Gerardo) Rodriguez; six sons, Jesse (Olivia) Ybarra, Cruz (Janie) Ybarra, Julian (Adela) Ybarra, Cristobal Ybarra, Domingo (Fabiana) Ybarra and Estanislao (Eva) Ybarra all of Corpus Christi; seven sisters, Virginia Pena, Francisca (Antonio) Pena, Julia Garcia, Olivia (Manuel) Acuna Sr., Maria Yolanda Rodriguez Rosario (Gilbert) Castillo all of Corpus Christi and Genoveva (Steve) Bernal of Beeville, Texas; three brothers, Jose (Esperanza) Martinez, Delfino Martinez, Raul Gilberto (Rebecca) Martinez; She is also survived by an uncle, Pablo Martinez of Bryan, Texas, an aunt, Juanita Perez, and sister-in-law, Clara P. Martinez; twenty-seven grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren and fifty-seven nieces and nephews.
Public visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 12, 2000 at the Angelus Funeral Home Chapel with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. that evening.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 13, 2000 at Our Lady of Pilar Catholic Church. Interment to follow at Seaside Memorial Park.
Active pallbearers will be her grandsons, Domingo Ybarra Jr., Rickey L. Gregg Jr., Chris Ybarra, Julian Ybarra Jr., Cruz Ybarra Jr., Jeffery Ybarra, Fabian Ybarra and Jesse Ybarra.

ZWIERS
Col. John S. Zwiers, retired Air Force, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, died March 8, 2000 in Austin after a valiant struggle with heart disease. Dr. Zwiers was born in Chicago, Illinois, on March 16, 1917, to John H. and Jeanette Zwiers. Years of sacrifice for and education culminated in a DVM from Michigan State University in 1944. He is survived by the love of his life, Marion Taylor, whom he married in a 1949, his daughter Karla Wilson of Corpus Christi and daughter Karen Mattison of Austin. Also surviving are beloved sons-in-law Dr. David Wilson and Ron Mattison. He leaves his legacy to his five loved grandchildren of whom he was so proud: Kristin Mattison, Kathryn Mattison, Christopher Wilson, Nicholas Wilson and Kevin Wilson.
His proudest career achievements came through his military career in the Air Force. He received the Meritorious Service Medal for outstanding service and was described by his superiors as "a highly intelligent, articulate, versatile officer with the highest degree of initiative, an authority in his field and an exceptionally competent teacher-lecturer particularly adept at guiding the work of young veterinarians." His life will be honored at a private graveside service on Monday, March 13, 2000 at 10:30 a.m. at the National Cemetery in San Antonio with full military honors. The service will be officiated by longtime friends and in-laws, Col. Walt and Gwyn Mattison.
John Zwiers was a Dutchman by birth but an Anglophile by choice. His love for English history and golf was part of his world throughout his retirement. He was a multi-faceted, multi-talented man who had a wide variety of careers that included being a professional musician, a race track vet, an inspector with the IG team, a health inspector and a teacher and researcher in veterinary medicine.
Donations in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association in Austin or Corpus Christi.

OBITUARIES

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