RITCHEA-GONZALES FUNERAL HOME

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Grady Lee Odom, Jr., 88, went to be with the Lord on Friday, February 25, 2022. Grady was born on February 22, 1934, in Sweetwater, Texas to Grady Lee Odom, Sr. and Lois Wood. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Barney Odom. Grady graduated from Sweetwater High School at the age of 17. He had been employed by the Santa Fe Railroad until his retirement and was later employed by Evins Glass, retiring after 22 years. He was a member of the Corpus Christi Lion's Club, the Corpus Christi Commodores, Corpus Christi Insurance Womans Club, Sinton Community Choir, was a Presbyterian Elder, Deacon, and Sunday School teacher. He was a U.S. Army veteran. If you needed to know any sports information Grady could tell you. He loved the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Tech Raiders, Texas Rangers, the Sinton Pirates and the Sweetwater Mustangs. He loved children and the children loved him. He also enjoyed traveling and spending time with his grandsons. He is survived by his wife, Judy Odom of Mathis, his sons, Justin (Tammy) Chopelas of Robstown, Barrett Chopelas of Cincinnati, Ohio and Mark Odom of Rockwall, Tx, a special son, Alex Odom, his sister, Mary Feagan of Waxahachie, Tx, his brother, Billy Odom of Taylor, Tx, his grandsons, Brady and Cooper Chopelas of Cincinnati, Ohio. Services will be held at a later date. The family would like to thank the staff of Windsor Calallen for all the wonderful care of Grady. Graveside services will be held at 10 AM Friday, April 8, 2022, at Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery in Corpus Christi with full military honors.

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Clayton Lamar Oehlke, 41, son, brother, and friend, passed away on Monday, September 6, 2021 in San Diego, CA. He was born on May 23, 1980 in Corpus Christi, TX to Bert and Linda (Shinn) Oehlke. Clay graduated from Texas A&M University in 2002 with a degree in Computer Engineering followed by a Masters Degree in 2005. He worked as a programmer for the Department of the Navy in San Diego. He is preceded in death by his father, Bert Oehlke, and his grandparents, Martin and Agnes Oehlke of Weesatche, and Eugene and Mildred Shinn of Portland. He is survived by his mother, Linda Oehlke of Sinton, his sister, Gina Ellis (Grant) of Boerne, and nephews Jack and Brooks Holt, and Kit Ellis, all of Boerne. Clay was passionate about his work, enjoyed traveling, and loved his family and friends. He was dearly loved and appreciated, and will be missed.

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Adelita V. Olbera, 96, loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother passed away on Sunday, December 2, 2021. Adelita was born on May 6, 1925 in Gruene, Texas to Benino and Leonor Briseno Villanueva. Adelita was the last survivor of her siblings. She was the rock of her family. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leandro Olbera and her son, Jose Olbera, Sr. She is survived by her daughters, Mary Ann Perez and Elida De Leon, her grandchildren, Anthony (Crissy) De Leon of Conroe, Tx, Diana Lopez of  San Antonio, Joe O. Perez and Joe P. Olbera, Jr. of Sinton, Leandro P. Olbera, Sr. of Victoria, Manuel P. Olbera, Sr. of Sinton, Heather M. (Jordan) Baumel of Conroe, Leonor Olbera, Lorenzo Olbera, Tomas Olbera and Ricky Olbera of Calfornia, 24 great grandchildren ,and 28 great great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews that were very dear to her. She also had many friends that were very special to her. Visitation will be held from 5 PM to 9 PM Wednesday, December 8 ,2021 at Ritchea-Gonzales Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral mass will be celebrated 11 AM Thursday, December 9, 2021 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with Father  Glen Mullan as celebrant. Interment will follow at Eternal Rest Cemetery in Sinton. The family requests that masks be worn at the visitation and at the mass.

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Carolyn Ann Brasfield Oliver, 70, passed away on Monday, August 7, 2017. She was born on January 25, 1947 in Sinton, Texas and she was a housewife. She is survived by her husband, Willie Oliver of Sinton, her son, Aaron Taylor of Sinton, her daughters, Patricia Brasfield and Cynthia Bess of Sinton, her brothers, Alex Smith of Sinton and Trellis Smith of San Antonio, 9 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.

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Bernardina (Nina) Ybarra Orta passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Sunday morning, August 29, 2021. Nina was born in Woodsboro, Tx to Elifonso Rodriguez Ybarra and Francisca Buendin Ybarra. She lived in Sinton until the summer of 1959 when she, along with her husband and eight children, moved to Taft. She had a full time job raising her family until her last child left home. Then she worked numerous jobs. For instance, at the nursing home in Taft and cleaning condominiums in Port Aransas with one of her sisters. She was a lifetime member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary since her husband was a veteran of WWII. She was a member of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Taft since 1959. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt to numerous nieces and nephews, and a friend to who will be missed by everyone who knew her. Nina is preceded in death by her husband, Willie Orta, Sr., grandson Willie Orta III, her parents, four sisters, and two brothers. Survivors include her sister Juanita Gonzalez, five sons: Oscar (Joyce) of Taft, Roy (Janice) of Marshall, Willie (Brenda) of Euliss, Issac (Rosemary) of McQueeny, and Samuel (Linda) of Spring; three daughters: Mary Lou (Manuel) of Houston, OrfaLinda (Gregorio) of New Braunfels, and Alice (Eddie) of Portland; 23 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.  Funeral service will be on Saturday, September 4, 2021 at 2 PM at the First Baptist Church in Portland (1305 Wildcat Dr., Portland, Tx). Interment will follow at The Palms Memorial Cemetery in Portland. The family requests masks be worn at the service.

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Maria Christina Orta, 71, loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend passed away on Monday, July 5, 2021. Maria was born on November 21, 1949 in Sinton to Eusebio De Los Santos and Ernestina H. Narvaez. She had been employed as a provider. She is survived by her loving family, her daughters, Venus Guerrero of Sinton and Serena De Los Santos of Arkansas, her brother, Lupe De Los Santos of Livingston, Tx, her sisters, Gloria De Los Santos and Alma Garcia of Sinton and one grandchild. A prayer service will be held at 7 PM Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at Ritchea-Gonzales Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 10 AM Thursday, July 8, 2021 at Ritchea-Gonzales Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Eternal Rest Cemetery.

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Edwardo R. Ortiz, 81, passed away on Saturday, April 6, 2019. He was a retired truck driver who loved to hunt and fish. He is survived by his wife, Eva Ortiz of Odem his sons, Edward (Tami) Ortiz of Corpus Christi, daughters, Amy (Grant) Lopez and Nicole Ortiz and Michael (Lizzie) Ortiz of Odem, daughters, Annette (John) Cortez and Mikayla Ortiz, his daughters, Gracie (Lee) Garcia of Houston, daughter, Leelianna Garcia, and Rose (John) Chavez of Houston, daughters, Yvonne (Eddie) Moffitt and Samantha Chavez. A rosary was recited at 7:45 PM Sunday, April 7, 2019 at Ritchea-Gonzales Funeral Home. Funeral mass was celebrated at 1:30 PM Monday, April 8, 2019 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Pete Elizardo as celebrant. Interment followed at San Pedro Cemetery in Odem.

 

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On September 3, 2021 at 4:30 PM, Robert (Bobby) Palacios passed away at the young age of 61. He was surrounded by loved ones at his home in Leander, Texas. Bobby was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on September 19, 1959. He was a welder for the majority of his life working on anything from structures to abstract metal art. He also assumed the role of the family's and closet friend's "Handyman and Mechanic." If you needed anything from laying tile, fixing leaks, to putting in a new starter, he was your guy. He was known for his good sense of humor and his contagious laughter among his friends and family. Bobby is survived by his wife, Yolanda, his 6 children, Brian, Derrick, Christopher, Thomas, Josh, and Amber, 7 grandchildren, his mom and dad, Nelda and Alfonso Lira, 8 brothers and sisters, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews. A public service will be held at Ritchea-Gonzales Funeral Home on September 10, 2021 at 7 PM. Public viewing will begin at 3 PM. A mass will be held Saturday, September 11, 2021 at Odem Sacred Heart at 10 AM.

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Frank Ebenezer "Pat" Patrova, 91, passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 2, 2016. He was born in Mentor-on-the Lake, Ohio on March 7,1925 to Steve Petrovasky and Minnie Heger. He graduated from Madison High School in 1942 and entered the Navy on February 17,1945. He was a fighter pilot surviving two wars. He retired from the Navy as a Lt. Commander in 1966 out of Chase Field, Beeville, Tx. Following his Navy Retirement Frank became Chief of Police of Sinton,Tx and then Port Aransas,Tx before being elected as Justice of Peace Precinct 1 in San Patricio County,Tx. He was a Judge from 1979-1996. He was preceded in death by both his Mother and Father, brothers, Walter Patrova, John Patrova, Robert Bair, Lester (Teddy) Bair and sisters, Elizabeth Babisch, Dolly Allen and Cora Shutack. Frank is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Margaret, three daughters, Deborah (Bobby) Kennedy of Houston, Karen (Gary) Byrd of Calallen, Cheryl (Billy) Rhodes of Oklahoma and one son Timothy Patrova of Sinton along with six grandchildren, Morgan Kennedy, Trevor Mawer, Kody Kemp, Lacey Edwards, Lindsay Edwards and Christopher Patrova and one great grandchild, Ayden Edwards. He is also survived by three sisters, Gertrude "Bunni' Lintz, Helen Davis and Sue White. Graveside services were conducted at the Sinton Cemetery on Sunday, September 4, 2016 at 2:00PM. Interment followed.

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After a very long battle with Dementia/Alzheimer's, another vaccinated soul was taken by Covid-19. Margaret (Peggy) Patrova passed away comfortably at home on August 31, 2021, with her granddaughter, Lindsay Edwards by her side. Margaret Mulholland was born to Robert and Margaret Mulholland on October 13, 1933, in New York City. She grew up in New York and Rhode Island. Margaret Mulholland married Frank Patrova on April 18, 1953, in Wickford, Rhode Island. They lived the military life for 22 years, stationed in Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, and finally retiring in 1966 from Chase Field Naval Air Station in Beeville, Texas. In 1966 they moved to Sinton, Texas with their four children. Margaret (Peggy) Patrova was a devoted wife and mother of 4, grandmother of 6, and great-grandmother of 1 with 1 on the way. She was a member of the Lady's Lions Club Auxiliary, Band Boosters, 4-H, helped in the Chamber of Commerce Office, and a member of many community committees and activities.  She is preceded in death by her husband, Frank Patrova in 2016, and daughter Deborah Kennedy in 2017. Her surviving 3 children are daughter Karen Byrd (Gary) of Calallen, daughter Cheryl Rhodes (Billy) of Noble, OK, and son Timothy Patrova of Sinton, Tx. Surviving 6 grandchildren are Trevor Mawer, Lacey Edwards, Lindsay Edwards, Morgan Kennedy, Christopher Patrova and his wife Ashley, and Kody Kemp. She is survived by one great-grandson, Ayden Edwards, and one unborn great-grandson to be born to Christopher and Ashley Patrova. She is also survived by 2 sisters and 2 brothers; sister Barbara Kenyon of Connecticut, brother David Mulholland (Lillian) of Florida, sister Carole Coutu (Richard) of Florida, and brother Donald Mulholland (Jeannette) of Tennessee and their loving families. Graveside services will be Sunday, September 5, 2021 at 2 PM at Sinton Cemetery. Mass and rosary will be Friday September 3, 2021 at 9:20 AM at Sacred Heart in Sinton.

 

Edward (Eddie) Ray Perez, 62, of San Antonio, Texas passed on to heaven 12/23/2015 at 7:30PM  in a Galveston hospital. Eddie was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on 7/17/1953 to Henry C. and Gloria Perez. He attended Crocket Elementary, Cunningham Junior High and graduated from Foy H. Moody High School. Eddie was a disabled Vietnam Era veteran and received a honorable discharge from the Army on March 1976. He was a certified welder for Gulf Marine in the early 90's and on April 9, 2014 became an Ordained Minister,"with all the rights and privileges to perform all duties of the Ministry". On September 25, 2014 he was awarded a honorary Doctorate of Divinity Degree by the Universal Life Church. Eddie throughout the years was an avid fisherman, hunter and loved to play the guitar. In the 1960's, at 14 years of age, he was the lead guitarist in a band that played one live performance on the televised Domingo Pena Sunday morning show. Eddie was a beloved husband, son, brother, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend. Eddie was preceded in death by his parents Henry C. and Gloria Perez. He is survived by his sons, William and Michael Benavides, wife, Alladeen Perez (two step daughters Melanie and Heather), sister, Gloria Burkig (Tom), two brothers, Roger Perez (Amy), Henry Perez (Melissa) and numerous grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. A celebration of Eddie's life was held at the Perez Ranch, Saturday, January 23, 2016 at 2:30PM.

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Jesus Perez, 55, loving son, father, brother, and friend passed away on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. Jesus was a longtime resident of Sinton where he attended Sinton schools. He was a self-employed construction worker. He is survived by his loving family, his son, Michael Jesus Perez of Beeville, his daughter, Abigal Perez of Beeville, his parents, Refugio and Sara Martinez of Sinton, his brother, Robert Martinez of Sinton, his sisters, Cindy (Danny) Guzman and Elva (Gilbert) Hernandez of Beeville, Rachel (Lee Roy) Rodriguez and Andrea (Johnny) Martinez of Sinton, numerous relatives and friends. A rosary will be recited at 7 PM Thursday, June 30, 2022, at Ritchea-Gonzales Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 AM Friday, July 1, 2022, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sinton with Father Yul Ibay as celebrant. Interment will follow at Eternal Rest Cemetery in Sinton.

 

Lilly Perez went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, December 22 2017.She was born on September 2,1930 in Karnes City ,Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents Jose and Leonora Castillo. Lilly leaves behind to cherish her memories a sister, Louisa Beltran, a son, Jose Armando Perez, daughters, Maria (Eusebio) Galvan, Esmeralda (Gary) Gelinas and Angie (Homer) Roblez. She also leaves behind 8 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Lilly was a homemaker all of her life and a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Sinton. She was cherished by all her family and friends who loved her dearly. She will be greatly missed. Visitation was held on Monday, December 25 ,2017 at 4 PM with a holy rosary recited at 7 PM. The funeral mass with rites of Christian burial was celebrated December 26, 2017 at 2:30 PM at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with Father Peter Elizardo as celebrant. Burial followed at Eternal Rest Cemetery. PSALM 62:1-2 "My soul finds rest in God alone, my salvation comes from Him, He alone is my rock and my salvation."

Thomas ``Tommy" Daniel Pluss, died of heart complications on Friday, October 2, 2015. Tommy was born on January 22, 1958 in Sinton, Texas to Dave and Jeanne Pluss both of whom preceded him in death. He is also preceded in death by his sister, Mary Lynn Pluss and his infant brother, Michael David Pluss. He is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Barbara Hovey Pluss, his brother, Max Pluss and wife Penny, his mother­ in­-law, Peggy Seagrist, numerous nieces and nephews and his pet cat, Bay B Gurl. Tommy loved sports and worked for Centurion Pipeline as a construction manager. Tommy loved his job and considered the people he worked with like family and likewise. Tommy was a good man and will be dearly missed by all. A funeral service was held at 11:00AM Thursday, October 8, 2015 at the Sinton Community Center, 1300 E. Sinton, with interment to follow at Sinton Cemetery. 

Ivan F. Psencik, 94, passed away Saturday, December 23, 2017 in a Portland, TX Care Center following a long illness. He was born in Smithville, Texas on May 7, 1923. He graduated from Smithville High School in 1941. He served in the United States Army Air Force from 1943-1945. He married Beatrice M. Nink in 1947 and together raised four children from 1950-1976 when the youngest went to college. They were together until her death in 2010. They had been residents of Sinton for 60 years where he carried on and completed a 29 year career with United Gas (Entex/CenterPoint) as a gas utility serviceman. He was preceded in death by his wife Beatrice (Nink), parents RC & Albina (Svec) Psencik, his brother Ernest (Bo) and his sisters and brother-in-laws Olga & Steve Sablatura, Lillian & Bob Lievens and Francis & Madison Sowder. He is survived by his three sons: Michael Psencik and wife Jeanne of San Antonio, Texas, Stephen Psencik of Austin, Texas and Thomas Psencik of Sinton, Texas, his daughter: Kathleen Deupree and husband, Richard of Athens, Texas and four grandchildren: Susan, Andrew, Erin and Kristen Deupree. Ivan lay in state Friday, December 29, 2017 from 1:00 PM to 9 PM with the family present from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM and a Holy Rosary recited at 7:00 PM at the Ritchea-Gonzales Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Mass was celebrated at 10:00 AM Saturday, December 30, 2017 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sinton with Father Ignatius Nwankwocha as celebrant. Interment followed in the Sinton Cemetery.