Wed Feb 01, 2006 Obituaries, February 1, 2006 ROSS GERALD MASON, 64, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2006, at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen. Funeral arrangements are pending under Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors, 395 S. Sam Houston Blvd., San Benito, (956) 399-1331. PAULA T. GARZA Paula T. Garza, 87, of Brownsville entered into eternal rest on January 29, 2006 in Brownsville. Mrs. Garza was preceded in death by her husband, Dionicio Garza, in 1991. She is survived by her nieces and nephews. She was a beloved mother and grandmother to all her nephews and nieces from the Gonzalez, Garcia, Torres and Huitron families. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. with recitation of the holy rosary at 7:30 p.m. today, Wednesday, February 1, 2006, at Darling-Mouser Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2006, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with burial to follow at Buena Vista Burial Park. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Darling-Mouser Funeral Home, 945 Palm Blvd. Brownsville, TX 78520, (956) 546-7111. PETE P. VALDEZ Pete P. Valdez, 77, a retired United States Air Force Chief Master Sergeant, passed away in Canon City, Colorado, January 12, 2006. Mr. Valdez, who was born in Brownsville, Texas, on March 11, 1928, enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp in 1946 and retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1974. Mr. Valdez was assigned primarily to the Strategic Air Command and had postings all over the world, including Germany, Hawaii, Spain, the Philippines and Japan. Mr. Valdez was also posted to the U.S. Air Force Academy, Cannon Air Force Base, the Pentagon and Langley Air Force Base. Mr. Valdez was one of the first noncommissioned officers in the Air Force to receive the new ranks of Senior and Chief Master Sergeants and usually served as the Base Sergeant Major at his postings, including when he retired at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, Texas. At his retirement in 1974, Mr. Valdez was recognized as one of the most senior noncommissioned officers in the Air Force. Following his retirement, Mr. Valdez became the national sales manager for Night Hawk Foods Corp. in Austin, Texas, from 1974 to 1980. Mr. Valdez graduated from St. Joseph's Academy in Brownsville, Texas, in 1945. His father, Pedro Valdez, was a manager for Edelstein Furniture in Brownsville, and his mother, Hortencia Valdez, was very active in Texas politics. Both of his parents are deceased. Mr. Valdez had one brother, Fred Thompson, now deceased, and five sisters, and many nieces and nephews, including his nephew, Homer Manautou. Four of his sisters, Veronica Garza, Hortencia Ruiz, Rachel Manatou and Celina Martinez currently live in Brownsville, Texas, and one sister, Norma Tims, lives in Fort Worth, Texas. Mr. Valdez is survived by his wife, Sheila Bradley Valdez, whom he married in 1982; his first wife, Donna Velle Valdez, who currently resides in Austin, Texas; and five children, Peter Valdez of Castle Rock, Colo., Donna Valdez of Arlington, Va., Bill Valdez of Takoma Park Md., Robert Valdez of Austin, Texas, and Linda Ioannesyani of St. Petersburg, Russia. He is also survived by two stepchildren, Stacey Bernstein of Lafayette, Colo., and Bradley Bernstein of Missoula, Mont. He also had 11 grandchildren and one great granddaughter. A private family memorial service was held for Mr. Valdez at Holt Funeral Home in Canon City, Colo. On Jan. 16, 2006, his ashes will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., in mid February, with full military honors. Friends and family are invited to contact Bill Valdez to learn more about the Arlington Ceremony. Arrangements handled by Holt Family Funeral Home. DIONICIO GARZA Dionicio Garza, 87, entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006, in Brownsville, Texas. He was a World War II veteran. He is preceded in death by his parents, Narciso Garza and Isabel Sanchez, and brother Guadalupe Garza. Mr. Garza is survived by his loving wife, Guadalupe Liendo Garza; a daughter, Maria Isabel (Ernesto) Lopez; sons Dionicio (Adelina), Carlos (Francis) and Oscar Garza; and six grandchildren, Michael, Michelle, Rene, Homero, Carlos, Vanessa, Leslie and Charlie; four great-grandchildren, Logan, Lee, Brittany and Emily. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a holy rosary at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2006, at Funeraria Del Angel Buena Vista. A Mass of Resurrection will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006, at Our Lady of Guadalupe. Committal service to follow at Buena Vista Burial Park. Serving as pallbearers will be Dionicio Garza, Oscar Garza, Carlos Garza, Carlos Garza Jr., Rene Garza and Homero Rivera (JR). He will be missed dearly by his family and friends. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Funeraria del Angel Buena Vista, cemeteries, mausoleums, and crematory, 125 McDavitt Blvd. Brownsville, Texas, 78521, (956) 541-5400. CELIA G. CAMACHO Celia G. Camacho, 79, of Port Isabel passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006. Mrs. Camacho was a lifetime resident of Port Isabel, member of the PTA, Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, and a number one fan of the Dallas Cowboys. Mrs. Camacho was preceded in death by her husband, Faustino T. Camacho; one daughter, Minerva Martinez; one son, Faustino Camacho Jr.; five brothers, Gualberto Gonzalez, Robert Gonzalez, Juan Gonzalez, Vicente Gonzalez and Dionicio Gonzalez; four sisters, Lydia Lieck, Angelita Barrera, Altagracia Gonzalez and Maxie Garza; and by her parents, Juan Escamilla, and Antonia Gonzalez. She is survived by two daughters, Alta C. Martinez and Gloria (Frankie) Cisneros, both of Port Isabel; one son, Patricio Camacho of Brownsville; one brother, Manuel Gonzalez of Brownsville; 11 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson, and by numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. Visitation will be from noon through 4:30 p.m. today, Feb. 1, 2006, at Thomae Garza funeral Home Chapel, and from 6 to 9 p.m. with a Holy Rosary recited at 7 p.m. at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Port Isabel. Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006, at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Port Isabel. Interment will follow at the Port Isabel City Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Guillermo (Memo) Perez, Evaristo Gorham, Dolores Dominguez, Isaac Camacho, Jesse Camacho, Manuel Garza, Roberto Vela and Andres Barrera. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors, 395 S. Sam Houston Blvd., San Benito, Texas, (956) 399-1331. ALEX SILVA Alex Silva, 10, passed away on Monday, January 30, 2006, in Los Fresnos, Texas. He was a very active child and loved by all who knew him. He was a fifth-grade student at Palmer-Laakso Elementary, and his favorite sport was football. In addition to sports and academics he enjoyed attending CCD classes at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church. "We love you and we'll forever miss you. May you rest in peace." He is survived by his mother, Maria A. Silva; father Pedro Silva Jr.; brothers Pedro Silva III, Ramiro Silva Terrones, Ruben Silva, Rodgeilo Silva and Jimmy Silva; sisters Juanita Silva, Esmeralda Silva, Rachel Silva, Sandra Silva; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and many good friends. A rosary will be held for Alex this evening at 7 p.m., February 1, 2006, at his parent's residence, Maria and Pedro Silva Jr., 29962 Track 43 in Los Fresnos. The Funeral Mass will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2006, at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church in Los Fresnos with interment to follow in the family's private cemetery. Services have been entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors, 395 S. Sam Houston Blvd., San Benito, Texas, (956) 399-1331. Posted on Feb 01, 06 | 12:00 am |