Betty Pyka
1931-2011
Betty Pyka, 79, of San Antonio, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 2, in San Antonio.
She was born on Dec. 8, 1931, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, to John and Juanita Mellgren.
Betty married
Charles “Charlie” Pyka on August 18, 1958, in San Antonio. Her husband preceded her in death.
She was a member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church.
Survivors include three daughters, Paula Shake and her husband, Terry; Sandy Gore and her husband, Clarence; and Patty Roberts and her husband, Andy, all of San Antonio; son John M. Mellgren and his wife, Cathy, also of San Antonio; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild and numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.
Funeral mass was held Friday, Jan. 7, at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church.
Memorials may be made to the Catholic Church.
Funeral Arrangements are entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Bandera.
Michael Allen Cloud
1946-2011
Michael Allen Cloud, 64, passed over on Friday, March 4.
He was born in SIOUXx City, Iowa, on Sept. 21, 1946.
After graduating from La Salle Catholic High School, Michael served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War.
He then attended Trinity University and continued his education with a four-year apprenticeship with the IBEW Local #60, where he was honored as Apprentice of the Year.
As founder of Eagle Electric Works, Michael enjoyed doing creative lighting for the residents of the Texas Hill Country until his retirement in 2009.
He is survived by his stepmother, Phyllis Cloud; daughter Danielle Bates; son Merlin Cloud; 14 sisters and brothers; and grandchildren, Haley Bates, Hannah Bates and Emory Cloud, all of Bandera, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Harold V. Cloud and mother Mary E. Witt.
Much loved by those who knew him, Michael will be greatly missed.
Graveside services were held Friday, March 11, at the Pipe Creek cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in the name of Michael Allen Cloud to the Arbor Day Foundation.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Bandera.
John Graham
1916-2011
John Graham went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, March 8.
He was born Jan. 24, 1916, in Montclair, New Jersey, to Sarah Avery Jefferson and Geoffrey Graham.
After graduating from Princeton University in 1939, Mr. Graham visited many countries around the world.
Called to active duty prior to Pearl Harbor, he served as an officer in the United States Army in various areas in the US, as well as in the Pacific as a military government officer in Yokohama, Japan.
Following the war, Mr. Graham worked for American Airlines for 22 years in sales and sales management in Newark, New Jersey; New York City; and Dallas-Fort Worth. In 1962, he changed careers and for 22 years serves as vice president of sales for Village Kitchen Foods of Dallas and Mead Foods of Abilene.
Throughout most of his life, Mr. Graham was active in both Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. He also served as an Elder at Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas. Following retirement, he moved to Bandera and helped found the Pipe Creek Presbyterian Church, serving as the church’s first Clerk of Session.
Mr. Graham is survived by his wife, Jane Donnell Graham; children, John Graham, Jr. of Fredericksburg, and Sally Graham Peterson of Clarksville, Tennessee; grandchildren, Kristine Donnell Peterson Rudolph, William David Rudolph, William Graham Rudolph, Margaret Donnell Rudolph and Keith Douglas Peterson, Jr.; and great-grandchildren, Monica Poston Peterson, Olivia Graham Peterson, Walker Douglas Peterson, Kathryn Graham Peterson Cartwright, Joshua Robert Cartwright, Jack Wilson Cartwright, Sally Graham Peterson and Keith Douglas Peterson.
A memorial service was held Saturday, March 12, in the FJ Tips Mausoleum Chapel at Mission Burial Park North in San Antonio. An online guest book may be signed at www.missionparks.com under the obituary section.
Memorials in Mr. Graham’s name may be made to the Pipe Creek Presbyterian Church, the Frontier Times Museum of Bandera or to a charity of choice.
Donald Ernest Dubbs
1924-2011
Donald Ernest Dubbs, 87, passed away on Tuesday, March 15, in San Antonio.
He was born to Dale and Dorothy Rust Dubbs on Feb. 24, 1924.
Mr. Dubbs proudly served his country in the United State Marine Corps during World War II. He worked as an engineer for United States Steel the Merchant Marines.
He was also a proud member of the NRA and the MLTRA.
Mr. Dubbs is survived by nephews, Gary T. Dubbs and his wife, Chela, of Bandera; Dale Dubbs and his wife, Jean Moore, of Pensacola, Florida; and Ronald Dubbs and Donald Dubbs of Phoenix, Arizona; and Larry Dubbs; niece Annie Vaughn, also of Phoenix; and brother Richard “Dick” Dubbs of Montana.
The family received friends at the Funeral Chapel on Sunday, March 20.
Mr. Dubbs firmly believed in supporting local charities, and in lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in his name to Silver Sage Corral Senior Activity Center, Bandera County Public Library, Bandera Helping Hands, Boys & Girls Club of Bandera County, Bandera Sports Complex or Medina Little League.
John Allen Johnson
1940-2011
John Allen Johnson died Thursday, March 3. His many friends referred to him affectionately as “Butch” and “Hawg.”
He was born July 9, 1940.
A retired sergeant in the United States Air Force, John was an endowed member of Texas Lodge 8, Valley of San Antonio’s Scottish Rite Shrine Temple 32nd Degree Mason, member of the Alzafar Shrine Motor Patrol, past president of the San Antonio Hill Country Gypsy M/C, member of the USA Lifer Chapter of the Gypsy M/C, member of the Traveling Turds of Texas and member of the Turtle Club. He was once a Cardinal and will always be a cardinal. John was also a lifelong member of the American Legion and VFW.
He volunteered with the Horses for Humanity Equine Therapy and served as Santa for The Fisher House and American Legion Post 410. John also volunteered with The Fisher House, Elf Louise, Renegade Hockey Team and the Dancing Bear, as well as for numerous other organizations.
A member of the Gateway Boozers softball team, John was also an avid pontoon boat skipper and fisherman.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mary Jo Johnson; son John Douglas Johnson and his wife, Beverley; sister Patty Churchwell, brother-cousin, Pete LeBouf; grandsons, John Robert Johnson; Chris Cook and his wife, Jenn; Curtis Cook; Jerrad Cook; and James Heinen; granddaughters, Lacy Weisman and Kathleen Heinen; and great-grandson Zachery Bradford Johnson.
John was preceded in death by his mother, Jewell Johnson; brother Jackie Johnson; sister Melba Johnson; and daughter Sherry Ann Johnson.
Funeral services will be held at 11:45 am, Thursday, March 17, at the Alzafar Shrine Temple, 901 North Loop 1604 West. Interment will be at 2 pm at the Fort Sam Houston National cemetery with a reception following at VFW Post 6012, 4810 West Military Drive, in San Antonio.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in John’s name to the Heart Association, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
