The Brownsville Herald - Online Edition Obituaries August 18, 2006 AMBROSIO SANCHEZ, 77, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2006 at his residence. Funeral arrangements are pending under Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors, 395 S. Sam Houston Blvd., San Benito, (956) 399-1331. BERTHA DILIA GONZALES Bertha Dilia Gonzales, a life-long resident of this city passed away Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2006, at Sunshine Haven Hospice of Brownsville. The daughter of Refugio "Cuco" Gonzales and Aurora Pena Gonzales. Dilia attended Brownsville public schools and graduated from Valley Baptist Academy. She later attended Texas A&I University and majored in elementary education. Ms. Gonzales retired in 1996 as a teacher from BISD with 40 years of service. She taught at La Encantada and Villa Nueva Elementary Schools, the Edgewood ISD in San Antonio, Victoria Heights and Russell Elementary Schools, and Stell Middle School. She was an active member of the Primera Iglesia Presbiteriana Mexicana during her childhood and later became a member, deacon, and elder of the First Presbyterian Church. She also served as a pianist, sponsor of the youth group, and choir director for the church. She loved her church, and the family appreciates the love and support provided by the congregation during her illness. Ms. Gonzales was preceded in death by her parents, foster brother, Noe Balderas, and foster sister, Lidia de Leon. She is survived by brothers, Joe "Buddy" Gonzales and wife Wanda of Wichita Falls, Oscar Gonzales and wife Mary of San Antonio, sister-in-law, Lotte Balderas of Copperas Cove, foster sister, Ester Garza of Brownsville and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 20, 2006, at First Presbyterian Church, 450 Palm Blvd., Brownsville, TX 78520. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials in her name be made to First Presbyterian Church or Sunshine Haven Hospice, P.O. Box 4478, Brownsville, TX 78523. ORVIS D. AKERS Orvis D. Akers, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, community and church leader, and respected businessman, was born Dec. 8, 1921, and died Aug. 16, 2006, at his daughter's home in Willis, Texas surrounded by loved ones. Orvis had battled complications from lung and brain cancer. Orvis is survived by his beloved wife, partner, and friend of 63 years, Norma Patterson Akers, by his daughters and sons-in-law Cindy and Cecil Peters and Sherry and Frank Imhoff, by grandchildren Kent Morris and wife Lindsay, Clint Peters and wife Missy, Lauren Calhoun and husband Clinton, Luke Peters, great-grand-daughter Abigail Grace Peters, and step-grandson Austin Imhoff. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Susie Akers, his sister, Violet Lazo, his brother, Douglas Akers, and grand-daughter Amanda Akers Morris. Orvis touched the lives of numerous friends and acquaintances through his many years as an outstanding insurance agent for American National, through his work as deacon and elder with the First Presbyterian Church of McAllen and through his association with many charitable organizations including: the McAllen Rotary Club (past president and a member for over 50 years), the Salvation Army (life member and board member for 30 years), the Vannie E. Cook Jr. Cancer Center and Foundation (served for over 20 years and 10 years as chairman), the Samaritan Counseling Center (past president), Chamber of Commerce (past president and ethics chairman), United Way (chairman), Fireman's Pension, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and the Heart Fund. He worked for many years serving on the Industrial Foundation and towards the creation of the Foreign Trade Zone and was honored when one of the trade zone buildings was named after him. Having served his clients and his fellow salesmen as both friend and mentor with American National Insurance Company, Orvis's years of contributions and leadership were recently recognized when he was inducted as the second member of American National's Hall of Fame. Past president of the Texas Association of Life Underwriters, a member of the Million Dollar Round Table and a recipient of the National Quality Award for over 30 years, Orvis often finished his business year as one of the top ten salesmen in the country. When asked when he planned to retire, he would respond "as soon as I get old enough" and then add he had always heeded the advice "it is better to wear out than to rust out." Orvis proudly served his country during World War II in the Air Force and again during the Korean Conflict. He was a mechanic on the Enola Gay and enjoyed sharing some of his military experiences with high school students. Orvis enjoyed hunting doves and deer and many friends will remember his hunting stories with delight. He especially enjoyed hunting with his three grandsons and sharing these special memories with them before he passed. Orvis loved the Rio Grande Valley and delighted in sharing the history and unique traditions with visitors. He enjoyed giving driving tours of the Valley, complete with historical and agricultural points of interest and, if one were lucky, pointed out a good dove hunting location as well. Along with good friend Bill Stocker, Orvis enjoyed a stint of radio celebrity as well when he and Bill teamed up for a series of commercials for Palace Cleaners. Known also for the bluebonnets that he reseeded every year and planted in his flowerbed on Second Street, Orvis also enjoyed talking to those who stopped to visit and admire his field of blue. He was also known as the "turtle man" for his habit of rescuing turtles destined for road kill along his weekly trek between McAllen and Laredo. Norma and he provided the turtles with a safe environment among the papaya and grapefruit trees and Orvis was often a welcome guest in elementary classrooms, sharing his turtle babies and his knowledge of turtle lore with elementary school children. Regardless whether addressing a large group or small, Orvis always left us with his trademark salutation: "That's all my time and I thank you for yours." Those of us who were blessed to have known him are thankful for that time he shared with us and the love, knowledge, friendship, and guidance he gave us along the way. Visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m., today, Friday, Aug. 18, 2006, with the family present to receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. at Kreidler Funeral Home, 314 N 10th St. in McAllen. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2006, at First Presbyterian Church, 104 S. 12th St. in McAllen. Interment will be Sunday, Aug. 20, 2006, at Rutledge Cemetery in Poteet, Texas. The family would like to thank all the extended family and friends for the love, prayers, and concern extended during Dad's final months. In lieu of flowers the family requests charitable contributions be made to the Amanda Akers Morris Memorial Fund (scholarships for graduating high school seniors) P.O. Box 2056 Willis, TX 77318, the Vannie E. Cook Jr. Cancer Center and Foundation of McAllen, 101 West Expressway 83, McAllen, TX 78503, and the Salvation Army of McAllen, P.O. Box 4766, McAllen, TX 78502-4766. Kreidler Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of the arrangements. The Brownsville Herald 1135 E. Van Buren Brownsville, TX 78520 956-542-4301 1-800-488-4301 © 2006 The Brownsville Herald