Joe David “Jody” Garcia age 55 died in San Antonio August 23, 2014.  Jody was born in Karnes City August 19, 1959 to Joe and Paula Ramirez Garcia.  Jody was an instrument technician with Renegade Automation.  He is preceded in death by his grandparents Manuel & Maria Garcia and Gino & Blasa Ramirez.

He is survived by his parents Joe & Paula Garcia of Kenedy, wife Connie Bond of Spring Branch, TX, three step-daughters Amy (Brandon) Mueller, Jackie Bond, & Susan Bond all of Spring Branch, Great Grandson Nathaniel Mueller, Sisters JoAnn (Byron) Chandler of Cypress, TX, & Mary Ellen (Basilio Martinez) Garcia of San Antonio, Brother Gino (Jessica) Garcia of Kenedy and many nieces and nephews.

A Prayer service will be held Tuesday, August 26^th. At 8:00 P.M. at the Eckols Chapel.  Funeral services will be Wednesday, August 27^th. At 10:00 A.M. at the Eckols Chapel with Rev. Jim Pogue officiating.  Interment will be in the Loma Alta Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Brad Dumont, Johnny Gustafson, Jeff Huff, Mark Medina, Ryan Garcia, & Brandon Mueller.  Honorary Pallbearers will be Jeff Angell, Jimmy Ramirez & Kyle Shaw.

James Luther “Jim” Wheeler, age 78 of Kenedy, TX passed away on Monday, August 25, 2014 in San Antonio, TX.  Jim was born on December 15, 1935 in Winthrop, Arkansas to the late Henry Albert and Ruth Jetton Wheeler. He graduated from Taft High School in 1955 in Taft, California.  On March 9, 1964 he married Eddie Mae Waltersdorff in Cuero, TX who preceded him in death.  Jim served his country proudly for 2 years in the U.S. Army and retired as a truck driver-supervisor for Conoco Phillips.  Jim loved traveling throughout the United States, especially through the Colorado Rocky Mountains. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.  Jim was a kind, caring and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend and he will be greatly missed.

He is preceded in death by his wife Eddie Mae Waltersdorff Wheeler, his parents Henry Albert and Ruth Jetton Wheeler and his brother Allen Wheeler.

He is survived by his daughter Karen Hartsfield and husband Mike; his sons Vernon Wheeler and Linda Hale, Randy Wheeler and wife Janie, Curtis Mueller and wife Diane, Carl Mueller and wife Jackie, all of Kenedy; his sister Flora Mae Howard of Bakersfield, CA; his brother Robert Wheeler and wife Sudsavad of Redding CA; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Visitation will begin at 12:00 Noon Thursday, August 28, 2014 with Family Visitation from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  Funeral Services will be held Friday, August 29, 2014 at 11:00 AM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  Interment will follow in the Kenedy Cemetery.

Maximo Zapata age 92 of Runge, TX died Sunday August 17, 2014.  He was born in Fredericksburg, TX to Maximo, Sr. and Paulita Zapata.  He married Maria Contreras in 1941 in Runge, and she preceded him in death Feb. 26, 2005.He is survived by his daughters, Anita Rodriguez of Victoria, Oralia (Alex) Matamoros of Houston, Pauline (Sebero) Bustamante of El Campo, Blanca Ester Barrientez of AL, Dalia (Jesse) Mesa of Victoria. One son, Ernest (Linda) Zapata of Runge , sisters, Lina Zapata of Runge, and Tonia Rodriguez of Kenedy,  Brothers, Tomas Zapata, Sr. of San Antonio, and Eloy Zapata, Sr. of Runge.A Rosary will be recited Monday, August 18, 2014 at 7:00 PM from the Eckols Chapel.  Funeral mass will be held Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at 10:00 AM from St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Runge.  Interment will be in the Runge Cemetery.Serving as pallbearers are Porsirio Rodriguez, Jesse Ray Mesa, Larry Zapata, Jimmy Zapata, Scott Barrientez & Gabriel Salas.

Wilbert Lee Kolodziej aka “Caliche,” died Tuesday, August 12, 2014 in Corpus Christi after a sudden illness.  Wilbert was born September 15, 1938 at home in DeWees, TX to Leon Floren and Meta Koenning Kolodziej.  He married Mary Ann Johnson on June 13, 1959 in Pawnee, TX.

After graduation from Poth High School, Caliche started his 32 year career with Halliburton in Falfurrias, TX.  From there he was transferred to Beeville where they welcomed their son Calvin Michael in December 1960.  After being relocated to Robstown the family was finally complete with the addition of Cynthia Michelle in July of 1962.  After retiring from Halliburton, Wilbert and Mary Ann moved to Sinton, TX where he continued staying active by driving trucks for Chemical Express, Willoughby Trucking and Groendyke Transport.  In April 2010, Wilbert and Mary Ann fully retired to Tuleta, TX.

Wilbert is preceded in death by infant sister Leona, brother Harvey, parents Leon and Meta Kolodziej, sister Margaret Luedecke and her husband Ernest and brother-in-law James Eldridge.  Left to cherish his memory are wife, Mary Ann Kolodziej, his sister Lynette, her husband and Wilbert’s best friend Clem, sister Kay Francis Eldridge, children: Michael (Kim) Kolodziej of Sinton, TX, Michelle (Danny) Morris of Tuleta, TX; grandchildren: Ashley Nicole, Lindsey Renee (Richard), Reagan Beth, William “Will” Tyler, Taylor Marie and Brandon Kyle; great-grandchildren: Brooke Avery and Carter Ryan.

Active Pallbearers are Richard Benson, Gary Kelley, Will Kolodziej, Brandon Morris, Joseph “JoJo” Respondek and Mark Sain.  Honorary Pallbearers include all of Wilbert’s Halliburton Family.

Visitation will be held Thursday, August 14, 2014 from 9:30am to 10:30am at Eckols Funeral Home in Kenedy, TX with services to follow at 10:30am.  Interment to follow at Pawnee Cemetery.

Maria Cecilia Salinas Soliz, Age 45, of Kenedy, TX passed away on August 6, 2014 in Kenedy, TX.  She was born on May 16, 1969 in Alice, TX to Maria Alaniz Salinas and the late Benito P. Salinas, Sr.  She was a homemaker and a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church. 

She is preceded in death by her father, Benito P. Salinas, Sr. and 1 sister Rachel Salinas.

She is survived her mother Maria Salinas of Kenedy, TX; husband Chris Soliz of Kenedy, TX; daughters, Sausha Salinas, Shania Soliz, Skarlett Soliz, Skylar Soliz all of Kenedy, TX; son Alfred Lawrence (Jessica Ramos) Villarreal of Kenedy, TX;  sisters Cynthia Solis and husband Jimmy , Clara “Katy” Salinas, brothers, Bennie Salinas, Jr., Baldomero “Bo” Salinas, Robert Salinas all of Kenedy, TX, grandson Lawrence Jacob Villarreal of Kenedy, TX and granddaughter Destiney Spencer of Floresville, TX.

A Rosary will be recited Sunday, August 10, 2014 at 7PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  Funeral Mass will be held Monday, August 11, 2014 at 10AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church.  Interment will follow at the Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers will be Michael Salinas, Bennie Salinas,III,  Raul Garza,  Joe Daniel Garza, Daren Cruz, Austin Cruz, and Aaron Barrientes.

On Friday, August 1, 2014 my baby girl was called to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amber Nicole Brown was born on November 23, 1988 to Allen Ray Brown and Charlene K. Johnson.  She Attended Copperas Cove High School. She attended United Faith Church and Prospect Baptist Church.  Amber is preceded in death by her sister Dawn Ryne Foley, her grandparents, Callie Mae and Charlie Foley, Jr., numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and her dog Pattie.  She leaves to cherish her memory, her daughter; Acelynn Rain Dixson, her fiancé Pfc Antoine Dixson of Fort, Hood, TX, her mother, Charlene K. Johnson, her father, Allen Ray Brown, sisters Tiffany (A.J.) Brown, Ashley (Preston) Owens, 2 nephews, Ashton M. Stean,  Landon I. Owens, aunts, Anna L Foley of Karnes City, TX, Tanya Y. Foley of Kenedy, TX, uncles, Carl (Delia) Foley, Paul (Rhonda) Foley, Charlie (Sharon) Foley all of Karnes City, TX as well as many family and friends, and 2 special ladies in her life, ChiChi Butler and Kathy Spillar.Visitation will begin at 12 PM Thur., Aug. 7, 2014 in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  Services will be held Fri., Aug., 8, 2014 in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bishop C. Drummond officiating. Interment will follow in the Kenedy Cemetery.

Rafela C. Salinas, Age 69 of Kenedy, TX passed away on Friday, August 1, 2014 in Floresville, TX.  She was born on June 20, 1945 in Goliad, TX to the late Daniel and Josephine Hernandez Calderon.  On January 23, 1960 she married Aquilino Salinas in Kenedy, TX.  She was a homemaker and a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church. She is preceded in death by her parents, Daniel and Josephine Calderon, and sister Maggie Hernandez.She is survived by her loving husband of 54 years Aquilino Salinas, Sr. of Kenedy , TX, daughters, Kathy Salinas of Uvalde, TX, Pat Kotzur and husband Archie of Kenedy, TX, Wanda Canales and husband Richard of Uvalde, TX, Jennifer Fraga of Kenedy, TX,  sons, Aquilino Slainas, Jr. and wife DeDe of Kenedy, TX, Jay Salinas, Sr. of Kenedy, TX, sisters, Adelfa Medina of Kenedy, TX, Ida Hernandez of Kenedy, TX, Lottie Calderon of Goliad, TX,  brothers, Jose Hernandez, Jr and wife Sharon, Juan Hernandez of Hondo, TX, 18 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.A Rosary will be recited Monday, August 4, 2014at 7:00 PM in the Eckols Funeral Chapel.  Funeral Mass will be Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at 10:00 AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church with Rev. Hermann Norbert officiating.   Interment will follow in the Loma Alta Cemetery.Serving as pallbearers will be Hector Salazar, Jr., Anthony Salinas, Sr., Tech. Sgt. Cody Kotzur, Jakob-Dylan Castillo, Ernnie Salinas, and Jay Salinas, Jr.,Honorary pallbearers will be Jaylon Canales, Trey Salinas, Jesse Ozrick Fraga, Aiden Castillo, Anthony Salinas, Jr., Archie Salinas, Kaleb Hernandez, Noah Kotzur, Abram Kotzur, Kyle Hernandez, and Gael Canales.