Stanley E. Tschirhart
1929-2113
Stanley E. Tschirhart, 84, of Lakehills passed away in his home the evening of Wednesday, April 10, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on March 13, 1929, the son of Olga and Sebastian Tschirhart. Stanley grew up in Bandera County and attended the St. Joseph's Catholic School.
He joined the United States Army in 1950 and was assigned to Korea.
Stanley married
Ruth Mazurek in 1955. A rancher in the southeast corner of Bandera County for nearly his entire life, he was a founding member of St. Victor's Chapel in Lakehills.
Additionally, he became an integral part of the community by serving two terms as a county commissioner, beginning in 1978.
Stanley was also a charter member of the American Legion Post 410, as well as a member of Hermann Sons.
He became known for his gentle kindness, quizzical mind and witty humor. Stanley was also a talented woodworker and welder - and could barbecue a mean chicken dinner.
He was a charter member of the American Legion Post 410 and he was a member of Herman Sons. Stanley was also known for his gentle-kindness, quizzical mind, and witty humor. He was a talented woodworker and welder and could BBQ a mean chicken dinner.
Stanley is survived by his wife, Ruth; children, Shirley Clark; Nancy MacMillan and her husband, James MacMillan II; and Robert Tschirhart, all of Lakehills; sister Theresa Stein; six grandchildren, Jimmy MacMillan, son of Nancy and James MacMillan, of Austin; Eddy Joe Clark, son of Shirley and the late Eddy Clark, of Lakehills; Corey Clark, second son of Shirley and Eddy Clark, and his wife, Darla, of San Antonio; Christine MacMillan, daughter of Nancy and James, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Mikaela and Luke Tschirhart, children of Robert and Cindy Tschirhart, of Lakehills; and great-granddaughter Abbey Paige MacMillan, daughter of Jimmy MacMillan and Becca Eirikson, of Bandera.
Stanley was predeceased by his parents, and brothers, Roland and Dan Tschirhart.
A rosary was held at St Victor's Chapel on Friday, April 14 with funeral services at St. Stanislaus Church on Saturday, April 15.
Interment followed at the Old Catholic cemetery in Bandera.
Pallbearers were Jimmy MacMillan, EJ Clark, Corey Clark, Luke Tschirhart, James Stein, Leslie Tschirhart, Pat Zinsmeister and Gerald Brown. Honorary pallbearers included James MacMillan, Gary Stein, Aaron Tschirhart, Mark Zinsmeister, Tim Odom, David Odom, Boyd Noack, Alvis Grohman, Gene Ott, John Gross and Bobby Malone.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Stanley's name to St. Victor's New Church Building Fund.
Teresa Smolen
2013
Former Strzelce Opolskie Council President Teresa Smolen, 72, passed away Saturday, April 6.
An enthusiastic supporter of the Sister Partnership between Bandera and Strzelce Opolskie, Poland, Smolen served as president of the Strzelce Opolskie City Council from 2006 to 2010She was an instructor of the Polish language for many years, as well as an author.
In 2009, during the Bandera County Sister Partership Association (BCSPA) exchange delegation to Poland, Smolen was presented with a cowboy hat from Bandera. As an Honorary Texas Ranger, she also received a ranger badge. Smolen was very proud of all her honors - from Texas in general and Bandera, in particular.
Additionally, she was admired and respected by many in Bandera. Her service to the Strzelce Opolskie community and outstanding support for the Sister Partnership between communities in Poland and Texas helped spread peace and goodwill between the two countries.
"We pray for her soul."
The date of Smolen's funeral has not yet determined.
Ray Allen Barton
1939-2013
Ray Allen Barton, 74, of Medina, passed away Wednesday, May 1. He was born on Feb. 7, 1939, in Marlin to Elma Jay and Vera Allene Redding Barton.
After graduating from Sugar Land High School, Ray attended the University of Texas at Austin on a football scholarship in the first class of recruits of Coach Darrell Royal.
Ray worked for 39 years in the oil industry, first for Baroid and then Texaco before retiring from Chevron as a drilling superintendent in 2001. During this time, he saw a large part of the world, surviving being lost in the desert in Egypt, a bout with a "bug" in Venezuela and being held as a prisoner of war in a political uprising in Libya.
Ray was fond of saying retirement translated to "free labor" for his daughters because he became known as "the great fixer." He also attended soccer, volleyball and T-Ball games; played a little golf; taxied granddaughters to and from events; and served on the Central Appraisal District Board.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Linda Nell Sides Barton; daughters, Lamanda R'Lynn Barton and Cali Sue Redd; granddaughters, Heaven Leigh Anita, Harmony Linda Allene, Hope Laurel Ann, Harvest Lowell Alayne Redd and Claire Elise Barton; father-in-law Brady Willis Sides; sister Marilyn Barton; brothers-in-law, Ed Jones, Jerry Sides and Joe Sides; and sister-in-law Sue Sides, as well as by many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Ray was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Toni Gayle Jones.
Funeral services were held Saturday, May 4, at Grimes Funeral Chapel in Bandera with Brother Gale Long officiating. Burial followed at Oak Rest cemetery.
Pallbearers were Ron Bartee, Pat MacDonald, Joel Sides, Fred Sides, Brad Marshall, Terry Dickey, LA "Buddy" Wheeler III, Randy MacNaughton and Criss Wilson.
The family wishes to extend sincere thanks to the emergency personnel who responded in our time of need.
Arrangements were entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Bandera.
Joseph Carl Anderson Jr.
1937-2013
Joseph Carl Anderson, Jr., 75, of Bandera passed away Sunday, May 5, in the Vitas Inpatient Hospice Unit Care at Methodist Healthcare in San Antonio. He succumbed after a brief struggle with cancer, complicated by a stroke.
Joe was born in San Antonio on August 21, 1937, to Joseph Carl Anderson and Alice May White. On March 25, 1989, he married
Mary Margaret Carr, formerly of Medina, at the historic Polly's Chapel.
Joe attended school at Sacred Heart, graduating from Central Catholic High School in 1955 and from St. Mary's University in 1959.
After receiving his commission in the United States Army, he served three years in Germany along the East-West border. During this time, the Berlin Wall was built and tension escalated between the Russians and the Allied Forces. After returning home, Joe served in the Army Reserves and later in the National Guard, where he attained the rank of major.
While selling life insurance, he called on a fellow guardsman who, while not interested in buying insurance, was interested in hiring a teacher. The next day, Joe reported as a teacher to Edgewood High School. He thought he had found the best job in the world. After that first day on the job, he had his first school holiday. Life was good.
Joe had found his true calling - helping young people succeed in life. He eventually became the DECA teacher, and later moved to Brackenridge High School in the San Antonio School District. After 31 years in public education, he retired in 1999.
From the time Mary Margaret introduced him to the Hill County, Joe found peace and happiness here. In 2004, he purchased a home in Bandera and lived happily among family and friends.
Joe never met a stranger. He would strike up a conversation with anyone he met - talking with them, not to them. He loved everyone and accepted them for who they were.
Some of his happiest times were the years he spent as a part-time tour guide in the Buckhorn Saloon at the old Lone Star Brewery. While serving as a party host for large functions, Joe would circulate through the crowd, learning names and calling the guests by name as they left.
He is survived by his wife; his children, Dagmar Climo and son-in-law Jim of Houston, and son Erik and daughter-in-law Carol of San Antonio: sisters, Barbara Jean of San Antonio and Jacqueline Voelkel and son-in-law Bernie of Glendive, Montana; grandchildren, Taylor and Julia of Houston, first wife and mother of his children, Helga Anderson, of San Antonio; and 13 nieces and nephews, both his and Mary Margaret's, as well as by numerous great-grandnieces and nephews and too many friends to count.
Joe was predeceased by his parents.
Visitation will be held at Grimes Funeral Chapel in Bandera from 5 pm to 7 pm, Friday, May 10. Funeral services will follow at 2 pm, Saturday May 11, at his beloved St. Christopher's Episcopal Church.
A second visitation will be held in San Antonio from 11 am to 1 pm, Monday May 13, at Porter Loring Mortuary, 1101 McCollough Avenue, with burial following at 1:45 pm at Fort Sam Houston National cemetery.
The family wishes to give special thanks to Dr. Michelle Scanlan of San Antonio, Dr. Rebecca Barrington of Kerrville and to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Methodist Hospital - and especially to those at Vitas Inpatient Hospice Unit at Methodist Healthcare.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Bandera.
