Elizabeth Ann Bowman Christal
1958-2015
Our beloved Bitsy went home to join the Lord on Friday, Dec. 4.
She was born Nov. 8, 1958.
We knew her as a mother, sister, friend and a great person. Bitsy's distinguished career included 30 years in the banking industry, including with the FDIC.
She was unique in life - she lived it out loud! Bitsy loved her family and friends unconditionally and will be missed by all those that knew her.
She is survived by her parents, Bill and Micki Bowman; children, Chris Christal, Kelly Christal and Sarah Parchem and her husband, Matt Parchem; siblings, Kym Lifshutz, Billy Bowman, Kari Bowman and Michele Hamilton; and in-laws, Vicky Bowman, Kathy Francis and Gil Rumstein, as well as by nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles, who will also miss her.
Bitsy was predeceased by her mother, Jeanne Reed Bowman.
Bitsy's life was celebrated, Saturday, Dec. 12, at Poteau United Methodist Church, in Poteau, Oklahoma. Burial followed at Oakland cemetery in Poteau.
Bobby Jay Clark
1951-2015
Bobby Jay "Tiny" Clark, 64, passed away Monday, Nov. 23, in Tyler, where he had lived for the past 40 years.
He was born in Wilson's Hospital in Bandera on August 27, 1951. Bobby was the great-grandson of Amasa Clark, one of the county's first permanent settlers.
He attended public schools in San Antonio and Bandera, but, after the death of his mother in 1966, Bobby moved to Dallas and completed high school. After graduating, he attended a technical and trade school where he learned carpentry, which became his life's work until his health began to fail.
Bobby was a member of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Tyler.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Wayne and Mary Alice, and grandsons, Ethan and Ian, all of Athens, Texas; sister Terry Fay Clark Ford of Meridian, Idaho; brothers, Roy Clark of Pleasanton, Larry and Dennis Clark of San Antonio and Ray Clark of Seattle, Washington; half-sister Naomi Wolford and his favorite niece, Deborah Huckabay, both of Chandler, Oklahoma; and paternal uncle Robert Clark of Bandera, as well as by several cousins in Bandera and Bexar counties.
Bobby was predeceased by his parents, WR "Jim" and Edith Clark of Bandera; two half-sisters; and a half-brother.
At his request, there will be no formal funeral service. Bobby wished to be cremated and his cremains spread over two favorite sites in Bandera. At a later date, the family will inter some of Bobby's cremains next to his mother in the Bandera cemetery.
Donations may be made in his name to the American Heart Association.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Hilliard Funeral Home in Van.
Walter Edward Stricker
1947-2016
Walter Edward Stricker, 68, of Pipe Creek, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 13.
He was born in San Antonio on March 19, 1947, to Adolph Julius Stricker and Harriet Inez Buck. Walter married
Virginia Mazurek on June 7, 1969, in Bandera at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church.
While attending school in Bandera, he also took care of the family ranch and welding shop.
While serving in the United States Army from 1969 to 1971, Walter was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, where his wife and first son joined him. By the end of his posting to Germany, he had earned the rank of E6.
After returning from the service, Walter and his wife lived in Bandera and he worked as a carpenter, welder, water well driller and rancher. He never met a stranger and loved to tell his stories - wild and true. Everyone who knew Walter was acquainted with his one-of-a-kind storytelling.
Walter is survived by his wife, Virginia; children, Walter Jr., Linden Rhea, Brandon and Jennifer; nine siblings, Adolph Julius Jr. and his wife, Tara; Rose Mary Parker; Harriet Inez Timmons and her husband, Bruce; Laura Jane Pichot and her late husband, Dennis; Willie Lee and Billie; Deborah Fay Sutton and her husband, James; Janet Gaye Evans and her husband, Mike; Lou Ellen Varner and her husband, Donald; and Charles Howard; and grandson Jason Stricker.
He was predeceased by his parents, and four siblings, Annie Katherine Ellis and her husband, Randy; infants Preston Mathias; and Alice Mae; and Linden Rhea.
A memorial gathering was held on Sunday, Jan. 17, at the Pipe Creek Community Center.
Floyd Stanley Kunkle
1928-2016
Floyd Stanley "Jake" Kunkle passed away in Boerne, Wednesday, Jan. 12.
Born on Jan. 20, 1928, in Creekside, Pennsylvania, White Township-Indiana County, Stan was the son of Floyd George Kunkle and Jean Marie Kunkle, the eldest of four siblings - brother Richard "Dick" and his wife, Lee; Robert "Bob"; the late Gwen; and the late Dorie and her husband, Joe Muller.
While serving in the United States Navy, Stan met Nancy Douglas in Seoul, Korea, and the couple married
on June 1, 1962. God blessed them with two children, Cathy Vitanza and her husband, Robert, with granddaughters, Caroline and Meredith; and Matthew Kunkle and his wife, Marisa with granddaughters, Elena and Kate.
Stan attended Indiana High School in Indiana, Pennsylvania where he lettered in basketball. During his teenage years, he worked on the farm of his grandparents, Clarence and Dora Kunkle, plowing fields with workhorses and milking cows in the early morning hours before school. Stan even delivered milk to the family of actor Jimmy Stewart.
After graduating from high school, Stan boarded a train and moved across country to California, attending San Bernardino Valley College from 1946 to 1948 where he played basketball. His love of aviation then took him to flight training in Corpus Christi, where he received his wings in 1950.
Stan was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet - VP Squadron 24 - Patuxent River, Maryland, from 1950-1953. During this time, he was deployed to Europe and the Mediterranean, as well as to Anti-Submarine Operations for the North Atlantic operating out of Argentina and Newfoundland. Stan then became a flight instructor at the Naval Air Training Command in Pensacola, Florida from 1953-1955, followed by a year at the Navy post-graduate school in Monterey, California.
Subsequent assignments took him to the South China Sea in 1956 as a CIC Officer aboard the carrier USS Philippine Sea CVS47, and then on to serve as Aircraft Commander of the Lockheed Super Constellation in Atlantic Fleet, Airborne Warning Squadron VW-13.
Continuing his education, Stan graduating in 1959 from George Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, then moved on to Air Intelligence School at Anacostia in Washington, DC. He later served as a senior staff intelligence officer for Commander Naval Forces, Korea; then as a part of the Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon.
Stan was promoted to Commander - Senior Staff Officer Commander Patrol Forces Seventh Fleet-Okinawa, and finally ended his Naval career in 1970 as Deputy to Head, Intelligence Systems, Naval Intelligence Command.
Commander Kunkle completed 22 years of continuous active duty. His awards and commendations included the National Defense Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service 4 Stars Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal (1960), and the Secretary of Defense's Certificate of Appreciation for serving in the armed forces in defense of this nation during the Cold War
After retiring from the Navy, Stan began his teaching career from 1972-1991, building award-winning Naval Junior ROTC programs at McDowell High School, Marion, North Carolina; Nimitz High School, Irving; Wilmer Hutchins High School, Dallas; and A. Maceo Smith, Dallas. As a teacher, he received the Civetan Citizen of the Year in 1974, the Admiral's trophy two times, community service award in 1980 and 1988 Teacher of the Year.
Stan's additional community involvement included Arlington, St. Albans Episcopal Church, 1976-1990, where he served as both Junior and Senior Warden; Pottsboro, 1996 Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Citizen of the Year and served for two years as president of the Pottsboro Lions Club in Pottsboro, and from 1998-2003 as Precinct 8 Justice of the Peace. Stan also served in the Texas Silver Haired Legislature for three years.
Throughout his life, Stan, Jake, dad and granddaddy, was many things to many people - a leader, servant, role model and a gentleman. He adored his wife, Nancy, and the life they created together - from Okinawa to DC, to the farm in Pennsylvania, to North Carolina and Texas.
Stan loved to share stories about flying and his military adventures around the globe, but in recent years he was happiest just sharing time with family and keeping busy outside. With his courage, kindness, and devotion, Stan touched the lives of all he met and mentored. The last of the true gentlemen, he was truly loved, and he will be deeply missed.
Funeral services were held at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Bandera on Saturday, Jan. 16, followed by burial with military honors at the Tarpley cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Carla Stroud
1939-2015
Born October 26, 1939, Carla Stroud went to be with the Lord Sunday, Dec. 27.
She was born in Bryan to Minnie Ola and Monroe Griffin.
A graduate of Houston's Lamar High School, Carla was a member of the school swim team and then took up golf, which she avidly pursued for many years.
She enjoyed traveling with her family and friends and especially the cruises she took with her late husband, "Pee Wee." She also looked forward to Bunco night with her "Bunco Buddies."
After moving to Bandera in 1994, Carla purchased the Beverage Barn RV Park where she befriended many people. Although tough, she had a heart as big as Texas. You always knew where you stood with Carla and she was never afraid to voice her opinion.
Carla is survived by her daughter, Monte Myers, of Lake Livingston; and brother-in-law Paul Stroud and his wife, Debbie, of San Antonio, as well as by many close and dear friends - all of whom will sorely miss her.
She was predeceased by her parents; husbands, Charlie Frerking and Kenneth "Pee Wee" Stroud; and brother-in-law Carl Mitchell.
A memorial service will be held to celebrate Carla's life at noon, Saturday, Jan. 23, at the Beverage Barn Pavilion, located off Highway 16 North.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Carla's name may be made to the American Heart Association, Multiple Sclerosis Society or to a charity of choice.
