The Brownsville Herald - Online Edition Obituaries, September 24, 2006 HERMAN LESLIE FOLSON, 89, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006 at Valley Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the care of Guerra Funeral Home of Brownsville, 3955 Coffee Port Road, (956) 544-1171. ESPERANZA DEL CASTILLO PADRON Esperanza del Castillo Padron entered into eternal rest on Sept. 16, 2006, at her home in Hialeah, Florida. She was born in Brownsville, Texas on April 1, 1924, but spent most of her life in Hialeah, Fla. She graduated from Brownsville High School in 1940. She also attended Incarnate Word College (grade school) and Brownsville Junior College. Esperanza is survived by her husband of 63 years, Guadalupe C. Padron; two sons, Charles Padron (Margie) and Oscar Padron (Adriana); a daughter, Norma Maynard (Tom) and several grandchildren. Survivors also include three brothers, Jose A. del Castillo (Lois), Manfred del Castillo (Lucia) and Wayne Ceballos; a sister, Lydia Castañeda (Armando); and aunt Rosa E. del Casti-llo. She was preceded in death by her mother, Cleotilde P. Ceballos; her father, Oscar J. del Castillo; and a brother, Oscar J. del Castillo Jr. Her husband, Guadalupe, enjoyed a lengthy career with Pan American Airways. As a result, they were transferred from Brownsville to San Francisco, Calif., in 1957; Miami, Fla., in 1959 (where they established their permanent residence); Long Is-land, N.Y., in 1975 and returned to Miami in 1980. "Pati," as she was called, was a loving and caring wife, mother and grandmother. She was a joyful person that would go out of her way to help others in need. She gave the gift of encouragement throughout her life by her knack for writing letters. Pati enjoyed cooking, crocheting, gardening and was an avid crossword puzzle fan. Her greatest joy in life was attending to the needs of her husband, children and grandchildren. She will be sorely missed by all. Memorial services were held on Sept. 20, 2006, at Lowe-Hanks Funeral Home, 4850 Palm Ave., Hialeah, Fla., 30132, (305) 885-3521. Local memorial services are pending. HOMERO BALBOA SR. Nov. 26, 1938-June 3, 2006 Formerly of Brownsville, Texas, Homero Balboa Sr. passed away on June 3, 2006, in Santa Barbara, Calif. Homero was born in Robstown, Texas, on Nov. 26, 1938, grew up in Brownsville and moved to California. He loved baseball and played on semi-pro leagues in Texas and California. He loved to laugh and touched many lives with his words or phrases. He retired in 1994 from the county of Santa Barbara. He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Cathy Balboa; sons Homer Bolboa Jr. of Ventura, Calif., Hector Balboa of Santa Bar-bara, Calif., Steve Balboa of Ventura, Calif., and Anthony Balboa of Lompoc, Calif.; his only daughter, Alyssa Balboa of Lompoc, Calif.; sisters Delma Saenz of Lawrenceville, Ga., Otila Gonzalez of Carpinteria, Calif., Alma Perez of Houston, Tila Reyna of Houston and Maria Pura Vicinaiz of Brownsville; and brothers Rafael Balboa of Brownsville and Jesse Balboa. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Baldomar Balboa, Jesus Balboa and Eloy Balboa. We will miss his laughter, love, and most of all, we will miss his larger than life presence in our lives. He loved Tejano music, and in it we will remember him always! IGNACIO GARZA Ignacio "Nacho" Garza, 92, went home to his heavenly father on Sept. 22, 2006, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Rio Grande City on March 26, 1914, where he was raised along with his three brothers and four sisters. Ignacio loved football and was a member of the 1931 Rio Grande City Rattlers. As a young man, he moved to Santa Fe, N.M., where he met and married his beloved wife of 69 years, Aurelia Trujillo Garza. He was soon blessed with a daughter, Mary Lou, who was the light of Ignacio's life. Eventually, the family moved to Texas, making Brownsville their permanent home. A welder by trade, Nacho worked for Pan American Airways and Inter-Continental Engine Services Inc. He was also an in-structor at Texas Southmost College in the vocational department. After retiring, Nacho became the night superintendent at the Brownsville Civic Center. He was a proud member of St. Luke's Catholic Church for many years and participated in countless church activities. Continuing his love for football, he was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan. He is preceded in death by his parents, Casimiro and San Juanita Garza; three brothers:, Casimiro Garza Jr., Antonio Garza, Alonzo Garza; and four sisters, Andrea Rios, Rosaura Olivarez, Ernestina Hernandez and Beatrice Castaneda. He is also preceded in death by a granddaughter, Regina Marie Maldonado. Nacho is survived by his wife, Aurelia; daughter Mary Lou Maldonado; his son-in-law, Alfonso Maldonado; his cherished grandchildren, Oscar Maldonado, and his wife, Josie, Diana Maldonado Doria, and her husband, Jesus, of Burkburnett, Texas, and Dean-na Maldonado. Nacho was blessed with four wonderful great-grandchildren, Regina Baggett, and her husband, Danny, of Denton, Texas, Maricela Arellano, and her husband, Alejandro, Gabriel Doria (currently stationed in Kosovo) and his wife, Sarah, and Oscar Maldonado Jr. and his wife, Zenia. Also, his four great-great-grandchildren, Taylor and Dylan Baggett, Alejan-dro Arellano Jr. and Samantha Maldonado. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews from Rio Grande City, Houston and New Mexico. Visitation will be held today, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2006, from noon to 10 p.m. with a holy rosary at 7 p.m. at Funeraria Del Angel Buena Vista. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, Sept. 25, 2006, at 10 a.m. at St. Luke Catholic Church. Committal service will follow at Buena Vista Burial Park. Serving as pallbearers will be: Alfonso Maldonado, Oscar Maldonado Jr., Oscar Maldonado Sr., Jesus Doria, Alejandro Arellano and Danny Baggett. Honorary pallbearers will be: Augustin Alcala, Ignacio Vasquez, Alfredo Arias and Dan Ramirez. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Luke's Catholic Church and Odyssey Health Care (Hospice). Funeraria Del Angel Buena Vista, cemeteries, mausoleums and crematory, 125 McDavitt Blvd., Brownsville, Texas, 78521, (956) 541-5400. Dignity Memorial Provider. WALTER PARKER Walter Parker, 79, of Brownsville entered into eternal rest on Sept. 22, 2006, at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Brownsville. Walter was born on Dec. 23, 1926, in Rangerville, Texas, to Albert and Juanita Weaver Parker. He served in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of World War II. He worked at several chemical plants prior to becoming supervisor of the water district plant. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Larry Joe Parker, and two brothers, James Parker and Roy Parker. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Frances M. Parker of Brownsville; two sons, Dale W. (Dana) Parker of Los Fres-nos, Texas, and Donald E. (Carolina) Parker of Brownsville; four grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; a brother, Jerry Parker; seven sisters, Gladys Oakes, Mable Drefke, Emma Fau-cett, Mary Jane Ready, Marjorie Spring, Ruby Poer, Shirley Cole; and several nephews and nieces. As per his wishes, his remains will be cremated, and a memorial rosary will be held on Monday, Sept. 25, 2006, at 8:30 a.m. at Darling-Mouser Funeral Home with a memorial Mass to begin at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church with burial to follow at Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens. Full military honors will be conducted by the American Legion, Post 43 Honor Guard at the graveside. Honorary pallbearers will be Shaun Parker, Brian Parker, Travis Parker and Jason Parker. Arrangements have been entrusted to Darling-Mouser Funeral Home, 945 Palm Blvd., Brownsville, Texas, 78520, (956) 546-7111. BERTHA M. FERNANDEZ Mrs. Bertha M. Fernandez, age 83, entered into eternal rest at Valley Regional Medical Center on Friday, Sept. 22, 2006. A lifelong resident of Brownsville, Mrs. Fernandez was born to Manuel Cisneros and Aurora Longoria de Cisneros, a prominent Brownsville family on Jan. 15, 1923. She was a graduate of Villa Maria High School and Brownsville Junior College. She received a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio, Texas, on May 30, 1944. Mrs. Fernandez began her illustrious 29-year teaching career at Brownsville High School, which later became Homer Hanna High School. While there, she was responsible for the development of the first high school bilingual office education program designed to train bilingual secretaries and administrators for border businesses. Because of this, she was honored with the Service to the Community Award and was named Rio Grande Valley Citizen of the Week by KGBT-TV. In 1977, she was named Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the Brownsville Association of Educa-tors. The Texas Business Educators named her Outstanding Business Education Teacher in 1978. Mrs. Fernandez was an active member of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral where she served for many years on the Parish Council. She was also a Eucharistic minister and was often called to lead rosary services for parishioners. In 1976, she served as regent of the Catholic Daughters of America, Court Bishop Adolph Marx No. 1988 and was chosen as a dele-gate to the Texas State Catholic Conference. She is survived by her children, Dr. Maria Christina (Jose Lorenzo) Fernandez de Gonzalez of Laredo, Patricia F. (Pablo) Mayers of McAllen, Guadalupe A. (Leonor) Fernandez of Kingsville, Bertha A. (Ivan) Welker of Brownsville, Cecilia A. (Kirk) Bockoven of Plano, Carlos E. (Elva) Fernandez of Kingsville and daughter-in-law Mina Besteiro Fernandez of Brownsville. She is also survived by her sister, Maria Luisa Kirtley of Aurora, Colo.; her sister-in-law, Anne Cisneros of New Orleans; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Mrs. Fernandez was preceded in death by her husband, Guadalupe A. Fernandez; her son, Manuel Fernandez; and her brother, Roberto M. Cisneros. Visitation will be held today, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2006, at Darling-Mouser Funeral Home from 4-7 p.m. Private Mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, Sept. 25, 2006, at St. Joseph Chapel at Toluca Ranch, Progreso, Texas. Interment will follow in the family Toluca Ranch Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Darling-Mouser Funeral Home, 945 Palm Blvd., Brownsville, Texas, 78520, (956) 546-7111. The Brownsville Herald 1135 E. Van Buren Brownsville, TX 78520 956-542-4301 1-800-488-4301 © 2006 The Brownsville Herald