Polly E. Porter was born on October 6, 1919 in Quitman, Texas.  She was the only daughter of C.O. and Mabel Goldsmith.  Polly was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, a beloved and active community member, and a Loving Mother of three children.

Polly went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 5, 2014.  She is survived by her children, William Donald Porter and wife Elaine, Sherry Lynn White, and Suzanne Porter Brown and husband Edward; by her grandchildren Elisabeth Porter Golden and husband Geoffrey, Paul Douglas Brown and Carolyn Suzanne Brown.

A Visitation will be held Tuesday, October , 2014 from 7 PM to 8 PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  Services will be Wednesday, October 8, 2014 @ 11:00 AM at the First Baptist Church in Kenedy, TX with the Rev. Homer Hanna Officiating.  Interment will follow in the Kenedy Cemetery.

LEONA ROSE ROTHLISBERGER KIRCHNER, 103 died Aug. 30, 2014.  Leona was born Mar. 9, 1911 in Victoria County to John & Ottillie Neuman Rothlisberger.  She married Alfred Kirchner Feb. 5, 1930.  Leona & Alfred moved to Kenedy  from Victoria in 1955.  She moved back to Victoria in 2001 to reside at Twin Pines Nursing Home.  Leona is survived by her 4 daughters:  Martha (Norman) Sims and Ruby Dietzel of Victoria, Dorothy (Bill) Anthony of Scottsdale, AZ and June (Glenn) Hagemann of Portland, TX, 10 Grandchildren, 22 Great Grandchildren, & 16 Great  Great Grandchildren.  Services will be Sept. 2, 2014 Tuesday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 11:00 AM with visitation from 10:00-11:00 AM with Rev. Wally Schievelbein officiating with Burial at Evergreen Cemetery, Victoria at 2:30 PM.  Pallbearers will be her grandsons.  Memorials to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church or Donor’s Choice.

Bernabe Garza, Sr., Age 75, of Kenedy, TX, passed away on Sunday, August 31, 2014 in Karnes City.  Bernabe was born on October 8, 1938 in Kenedy, TX to the late Felipe B. and Baldomera Garza.  On July 1, 1961 he married Hortencia Rubio in Karnes City, TX.  He was a mechanic and worked with heavy equipment. He is preceded in death by his parents Felipe and Baldomera Garza; and his brothers Jesus Garza and Isaias Garza. He is survived by his wife, Hortencia Garza of Kenedy, TX; his daughter Elizabeth  Morin and husband Ramon of Karnes City, TX; his sons David Garza and wife Bertha of Kenedy, TX, Oscar Garza and wife Anna of Beeville, TX and Bernabe Garza, Jr. and wife Brenda of Corpus Christi, TX his brothers Daniel and wife Grace Garza of Kenedy and Eligio and wife Rosie Garza of Clovis, NM; his sisters Rebecca and husband Gregorio Ocanas of Brehman, TX, Emma and husband Ray Villanueva of Kenedy, TX and Mary Ann and husband Domingo Garcez of Kenedy, TX; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A Prayer service will be held Thursday, September 4, 2014 at 7:00pm in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  Funeral Services will be held Friday, September 5, 2014 at 10:00 AM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  Interment will follow in the Loma Alta Cemetery.Serving as pallbearers will be Ramon Morin, III, Jesse Ray Morin, Brandan Garza, Casey Garza, Jonathan Garza and Joe Garza.

Oscar Mikes, Age 73 of Kenedy, TX passed away on August 30, 2014 in Kenedy, TX.  Oscar was born on February 22, 1941 in Kenedy, TX to Sam Mikes and Marian Douglas.  He was a proud Veteran of the U.S. Air Force, graduated from Kenedy High School in 1962, a member of Gallille Baptist Church in Kenedy and retired as a Maintenance Supervisor from the Kenedy Housing Authority.He is preceded in death by his father Sam Mikes, and son Mike Martin.He is survived by his wife Janet Wells of Kenedy, mother Marian Douglas of Kenedy, daughters, Holly Wells and Joshua Kame of Woodville, Sarah Wells of Kenedy, Christopher Mikes of Kenedy, Matthew Mikes of San Marcos, Denny Martin of Kenedy, Kevin Martin of San Antonio, Chuck Martin of Pleasanton; sisters Vivian Richardson of Ft. Worth, Geraldine Jefferson of San Antonio, Katie Mikes of Fort Worth, Diana Tabscott of California; and numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Edward Cantu “Eddie” Villarreal, Age 63, of Corpus Christi formerly of Kenedy, TX passed away on August 27, 2014 in George West, TX.  He was born on January 5, 1951 in Kenedy, TX to Pedro and Maria Cantu Villarreal.  He was a truck driver for Lone Star Tank Rentals in George West and of the Catholic Faith. He is survived by his wife Margie Zacher of Corpus Christi; parents, Pedro and Maria Cantu Villarreal of Kenedy; daughters, Victoria Maria Castaneda and husband Juan Castaneda, Tricia Ramirez and husband Chris, Nicole Villarreal and Joshua Guerrero; sons, Edward Villarreal, Jr. and wife Jessica, Felix Villarreal ; sister, Yolanda V. Salinas; brothers, Pedro Villarreal, Jr., Henry Villarreal and Danny Villarreal, and 15 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.A Rosary will be recited Friday, August 29, 2014 at 7PM in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel.  Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, August 30, 2014 at 10AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church.  Interment will follow in the Kenedy Cemetery.Pallbearers Henry Villanueva, Carlos Zacher, Ben Rosales, Joshua Villarreal, Eddie Villarreal, III, Alexander Palacios, JD DeLosSantos, Nathan DeLosSantos

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.