Obituaries

Steve Frank Hrozek, 96, of Cameron died Tuesday, April 2, 2019, in a Cameron nursing and rehab center. 

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 5, at St. Monica’s Catholic Church with Rev. Dimitrij Colankin officiating. Entombment will be at the St. Monica’s Mausoleum. Visitation will be Thursday from 5-7 p.m. with a rosary recited at 6 p.m.

Mr. Hrozek was born April 3, 1922, in Cameron to John Ladis and Albina (Marak) Hrozek.  He was a World War II Army veteran.  He retired from Texas Power & Light and then became owner and operator of Papa John’s in Cameron. He married Helen Keith and was a member of St. Monica’s Catholic Church. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus. 

Mr. Hrozek is survived by: wife of 73 years, Helen Hrozek of Cameron; daughter, Jeanie Hrozek of Cameron; and granddaughter, Julie Hrozek of Cameron.

Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home of Cameron is in charge of arrangements.

David Ruiz Osoria, 61, of Rockdale died Saturday, March 30, in a Temple hospital.  Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 6, at St. Monica’s Catholic Church in Cameron with Rev. Dimitrij Colankin officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Monica’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Friday at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home with a rosary being recited at 7 p.m.

David was born in Mexico on Sept. 25, 1957, to Francisco Ruis and Ladislada Osoria Sibrian. He married Ernestina Torres and had worked as a laborer. 

He is survived by: wife, Ernestina Ruiz of Rockdale; son, Jose David Ruiz Torres of Milano; daughters, Cindy Martinez of Cameron, Diana Ruiz of Navasota, and Lilia Ruiz of Sachse; brothers, Estevan Ruiz of Mexico, Ruben Ruiz of Mexico, and Daniel Ruis of Arizona; sisters, Esther Ruiz of Arizona and Rosie Ruiz of Mexico; and eight grandchildren.

Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home of Cameron is in charge of arrangements.

Edith Trew Banzhaf, 76, of Buckholts, died Friday, March 29, 2019, at her home.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, at the Friendship United Methodist Church in the Friendship Community of Milam County. Burial will follow in the Friendship Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday from 11 a.m. until service time at the church.

Mrs. Banzhaf was born June 26, 1942, in Mineral Wells to Thomas and Emma (Mann) Trew. She graduated from South San Antonio High School. She married Glen Banzhaf in San Antonio on Nov. 5, 1966. Mrs. Banzhaf retired from AT&T after 30 years of service and then worked for Scott & White for several years. 

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Esta and Verba.

Clyde Westbrook Hensley III, “Sonny,” passed away Saturday, March 30, 2019, at the age of 75 and surrounded by his loving family. 

He was born Oct. 15, 1943, in Corsicana, to Clyde Westbrook Jr. and Margaret (Willard) Hensley and into two families that trace their roots back to Stephen F. Austin’s “Old Three Hundred.” Clyde moved to Southern California in the late 1950s with his family and attended Whittier High School where he met his future wife, Noel (Bee) Hensley.

We have heavy hearts yet our spirits remain joyful as we celebrate the life of Belinda Jean Braddock of Rockdale.

Belinda passed away Tuesday, March 26, 2019.

Services will be held at Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home, 1041 W. Hwy 79, Rockdale, Texas 76567.

The family will receive visitors from 5- 6 pm Wednesday, April 3, with a memorial service to follow at 6 p.m. at the funeral home.

Belinda was born to Harry and Evelyn Starks on June 14, 1952.

Belinda was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, friend but her truest devotion and her greatest love were to her “Boys.” She was a member of the Milam County Cowboy Church in Rockdale. Belinda was retired from Sysco Foods as Safety Director. She sold insurance for RVOS Farm Mutual Insurance and served as president of Milam County Chapter.

Belinda was preceded in death by her father Harry E. Starks and her husband Duane E. Braddock.

Heaven gained a glorious angel on March 29 when Lou Mae (Lou) Templin Wallis, 86, passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side at her home in Austin.  She was a long-time resident of Cameron prior to moving to Austin.

She had a passion for sweets, loved cooking for her family and friends and watching her grandkids and great-grandkids sporting events. She was known by all the kids as ‘Granny’ and they were her heart and joy. She spent many years as a waitress and then retired from TU Electric. Her sweet and loving heart endeared her to all who touched her life and she will be remembered for the kind and compassionate person she was.

Ramiro (Raymond) Ramirez died March 19 at Petaluma Valley Hospital in Petaluma, Calif., with burial in Santa Rosa, Calif.

He was born April 15, 1950, in Cameron, to Elias and Isabella Ramirez he attended Cameron schools and retired from the U.S. Navy.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Eileen; his father, Elias Ramirez; brothers, Richard and Esteban; and sister, Rosa.

He is survived by daughter, Lynette Vannacci of Santa Rosa, Calif.; mother, Isabelle Ramirez; brothers, Raymond Lee Ramirez, Valente Ramirez and wife Donna, Robert Ramirez and wife Hope, Juan Ramirez and wife Pam; sisters, Mary Lara, Anita Vargas and husband Marcus; all of Cameron. He is also survived by grandchildren, Gene and Casandra; and great-grandchildren, Vincent and Jayden; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Gloria S. McCulloch Fuessel, 81, of Houston passed away on Monday, March 25, 2019, in a Cameron nursing home after a short illness. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 30, 1 p.m. at East Houston Baptist Church, 9425 N. Greenriver Dr.  in Houston. Burial will follow in Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston.

Mrs. Fuessel was born to Joseph Clyde McCulloch and Ellen Woods McCulloch on April 23, 1937 in Cameron. She lived all her adult life in Houston. She graduated from Galena High School and Houston Business School.  She was employed at the City of Houston’s Secretary’s office where she retired after 30 years  of service.

She was married to Donald Fuessel on July 23, 1986. She and her husband loved to fish and hunt.  They also loved to travel around the country and in Canada.

Lamar Gerald Drgac, age 78, passed away peacefully and surrounded by his family on Sunday, March 24, 2019, at St. Joseph Manor in Caldwell. 

Visitation for Lamar was held Wednesday, March 27, 2019, from 6-8 p.m. at Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell. His life was honored and celebrated on Thursday, March 28, 2019, at Cooks Point Brethren Church with burial to follow at Cooks Point Cemetery.

He was born on December 29, 1940, in Caldwell, to Johnnie and Ella Machan Drgac. He attended Cooks Point School through 8^th grade, graduated from Caldwell High School in 1958, and attended Blinn College in Brenham.

Joyce Rubac, 73, of Cameron died Friday, March 22, 2019, at her home. 

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, March 25, at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron with Rev. Johnny Kueker officiating. Burial will follow in the Corinth Cemetery near Buckholts.

Mrs. Rubac, a retired beautician, was born in Cameron to William and Margurite (Mandrel) Halpain on Nov. 17, 1945. She married Johnnie Rubac and was a member of the Buckholts Brethren Church.

She is survived by: husband, Johnnie Rubac of Cameron; sons, Johnny Rubac Jr. of Buckholts, and Carl Rubac and wife Anna of Cameron; daughter, Margaret Reigher and husband Frederick of Apex, N.C.; brother, Jimmy Halpain and wife Rosalie of Cameron; sister, Mary Cantrell of Cameron; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Memorials may be made to the Christian Sisters of the Buckholts Brethren Church.  Visitation was held Sunday from 4-6 p.m. at the funeral home.