Patricia Acosta

January 26, 1967 – January 19, 2024

Patrica (Trisha) Acosta, 56, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, aunt, friend, passed away into God’s Loving Embrace on January 19 2024, in San Antonio, TX. She was surrounded by her family whose love lifted her spirit after a valiant fight against cancer. She was born on January 26, 1967 in San Antonio Texas, the daughter of Pedro Rodriguez Jr. and Teresa R. BlaneyBorn and raised in San Antionio, she lived an extraordinary life, full of love and adventure that always centered around family. She attended Clark High School where she met her future husband Robert, whom she married in 1986. They welcomed their daughter Christina that same year, becoming a devoted mother who relished their time together at home and school. She was a celebrated cook within the family, having learned the art from her grandmother which she shared passionately with family at gatherings throughout the year. Those gatherings were incredibly important to her and she went to great lengths to prepare the house and plan the perfect menu for all her family to enjoy. Some of her fondest memories involved her time as a teacher at Heintz Preschool (of Congregation Agudas Achim) where she found the love of teaching art and met life-long friends. Although she remained a resident of San Antonio, she was an accomplished traveler having had adventures across much of the US, Mexico and Canada and further afield to Europe and Africa! Above all else, she cherished her time spent with her beautiful daughter and beloved grandchildren as they brought her the greatest joy in life. She went to great lengths to attend every practice, game, recital, program, and graduation and was often the loudest voice in the crowd cheering them on. She kept them close to heart in her daily activities as their love and support were her driving force. She will live on in all of our memories.

Trisha is preceded in death by her grandfather Pedro (Poppy) Rodriguez Sr. and her brother William A. Blaney Jr. She is survived by her loving husband Robert Acosta, her daughter Christina Carmona, Son-inLaw Matthew Carmona, her grandchildren, Alex Carmona, Andy Carmona, Gracie Carmona, her parents Pedro Rodriguez Jr (Yvonne) and Teresa R. Blaney (William), her grandmother Emma Rodriguez, sisters Stefanie Vititoe (Jason), Christina Cunningham (Kevin), Jessica Hoffman (Dolan), Monica Rodriguez, Sandra Schaub (Craig), brother Garnett Blaney (Misty), her beloved nieces and nephews (Alexa, Virginia, Dylan, Dakota, Jasmynn, John, Jacob, Kathryn and Whitley), great-nieces and nephew, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Paul Dean Kinslow

February 7, 1964- December 23, 2023

Paul Dean Kinslow was born in Wichita County, Texas on February 7, 1964, to parents Carroll Wayne and Dorothy Kinslow. Paul was preceded in death by his parents and other family including his son, Nick Kinslow. He is survived by his son Kristopher Kinslow, his daughter, Shellie Kinslow Taylor, and his sister, Janice Mason (Roy).

Paul was raised and went to school first in Oklahoma and later in Texas. Paul and his sister Janice attend Baptist church with their grandparents in Oklahoma. His occupation was carpentry and building trades and he made his home in San Antonio.

Paul attended RCIA at Saint Francis and was confirmed at the Easter Vigil mass in 2007. Paul helped many friends in San Antonio and especially parishioners at Saint Francis whom he considered his extended family. He ensured his son Kris participated in faith formation and was baptized. He also supported Kris’s participation in CYO sports. Paul was a hospitality minister and participated in Habitat for Humanity, ACTS, Men’s Club and Knight’s activities.

Thank you to all those who have prayed for Paul in the past with his two bouts of non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma and his recent hospitalization with cardiac arrest.

Reuben “Andy” Guerra

July 28, 1949 – December 2, 2023

Reuben (Andy) was born in Laredo, Texas to Reuben and Beatrice Weaver Guerra on July 28, 1949. He went to school in Hebbronville, Texas. He married Cynthia V. Ramos on August 4, 1973 in Kingsville, Texas. Reuben served his country during the Vietnam War as an electronic specialist and captain guider on the USS Lexington air craft ship. After serving honorably in the U.S. Navy, he attended the University of Texas in Austin. He continued his electronics specialty with Xerox Corporation and managed offices in both Corpus Christi and San Antonio for numerous years. Reuben (Andy) is preceded in death by Reuben Guerra (father), Beatrice Weaver Guerra (mother), Nelda Cora Lull (Thomas E. Lull) and Olga Deanna Wood (Richard G. Wood). Reuben is survived by his wife of 50 years, Cynthia V. Guerra, children: Edward Andrew, David Alan (Alecia), Michael Aaron (Nicole), Alexa Marie. Eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Also, his sister Catherine Rose Aiton (Travis Micheal Aiton) and nieces and nephews. A visitation for Reuben will be held Monday, January 8, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 4201 De Zavala Rd, San Antonio, TX 78249 followed by a funeral mass which will celebrated on Monday, January 8, 2024 at 12:00 PM. A committal service will follow on Monday, January 8, 2024 from 1:30 PM at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209 with military honors.

Lorraine Steubing Griffin

1930 – September 6, 2023

Lorraine was raised on a farm in West Bexar and Medina counties—without modern conveniences! She was baptized on January 17, 1931 at St. Louis Catholic Church in Castroville, Texas; she received her first communion and the Sacrament of Confirmation at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas. Her mother passed March 26, 1936, when Lorraine was only five years old, and she continued to live on the farm with her father and sister Madelyn, who was 7 ½ years her elder and stepped halfway into the role of her mom. Her father, who read the entire Bible several times, continued her Catholic education, though he himself was Lutheran. Lorraine enjoyed her summers with her grandparents at Rio Medina, where
she spent lots of time swimming in the Medina River in the shade of Cypress trees. Lorraine attended the Maverick School in Medina County, a traditional two-room schoolhouse of the time. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio when she was 15 and joined the work force, with her first job being in a real estate office for 5 years before entering Federal Service in Government Contracting at various local Air Force installations for approximately 41 years. While she was working, she attended San Antonio College and Southwest Texas State University. Lorraine said it was a long and rewarding journey from a two-room schoolhouse to the job that she held at the time of her retirement. Lorraine received many awards for her outstanding work during her time in federal service and retired in 1990, then went back for 13 months, until Rick told her she needed to retire so they could travel before they got too old. Lorraine felt very blessed to have such a large attendance at her retirement ceremony, where she received many gifts. She was awarded the Outstanding Civilian Career Service Award and medal, accompanied with a congratulatory letter from President George H.W. Bush. Lorraine also received a United States flag that was flown over the Congressional building. After retirement, she volunteered with the National Association of Federal Retired Employees (NARFE) Chapter 1320 for 18 years, bringing her total time on the Air Force Bases to 59 years! For her service, she earned the NARFE Award for District Volunteer of the Year.

The year she retired, Lorraine felt she had the opportunity to repay Madelyn for the growing up years, when her sister played the role of a mother as well as her big sister. Madelyn had colon cancer for five years before she passed and Lorraine was able to spend time by her side, caring for her and being the sister Madelyn needed during that time. Lorraine never had children, but she did enjoy spending time with her nephew Tommy, and later his three children, Kirk, Jennifer, and Jeff. She would have one of the children with her almost every weekend and they enjoyed many journeys to the coast. After she and Rick married, her step-grandson lived with them during part of his senior year of high school, his first year of college, and weekends and summers for several years thereafter.

In fact, traveling brought great joy to Lorraine’s life and she had many opportunities to travel in her home country and to travel abroad, though she traveled only in the United States after the events of 9-11. Her journeys include travel to Italy, Greece and the British Isles, an Alaskan Cruise, and to the Great Northwest and Canada; also to many annual Navy Squadron Reunions held in the United States.

Lorraine was an ardent community member and volunteer. Her diversity of activities includes being President of the La Villita Chapter of the America Business Women’s Association, a charter member of the San Antonio Purchasing Management Association, and memberships with the Altrusa Club of San Antonio and the Women’s Auxiliary of the Salvation Army, and numerous church organizations. Lorraine was deeply religious and spiritual and read the Bible twice, including the foot notes. Her church activities include serving as an administrator for Confraternity of Christian Doctrine classes at St. Gregory Catholic Church, being a Founder of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, an officer in the Women’s Council, serving as chairperson for the first St. Francis cookbook “Seasoned with Love,” membership in the Society of the Rosary (including making baby bibs and rosaries), membership in the Renew Bible Study group for 15 years, volunteering with Mobile Loaves and Fishes from inception until her health failed, and four years of membership on Hank and Flo Tripp’s Silver Stars team, where she and Rick helped prepare and serve meals and provide the evening’s entertainment one evening a month for four years. Fond memories have to include Lorraine’s cracker cookies; they were always a favorite at the St. Francis October Festival and would always disappear first, due largely to the fact that members and visitors alike would come to get those cookies before they even got their food! Lorraine lived a full life, surrounded by a wealth of family and friends that loved and greatly admired her. Throughout her life, people would tell Lorraine how much they enjoyed her smile, sense of humor, and twinkling blue eyes (which she got from her mischievous grandfather). Of course, the sense of humor sometimes got her into trouble! She leaves behind her a legacy of love and boundless beautiful memories.

Mary Simmons

May 24, 1931 – December 17, 2023

Mary Catherine (Schmidt) Simmons, age 92, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 17, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas. She was born on May 24, 1931 to Ella Brieden and George Schmidt in Devine, Texas. Mary, a lifelong Catholic, grew up on their family farm near Devine, Texas, sharing many of the joys and chores of farm life with her family. She attended Devine High School and was very active in band, student council, and loved athletics her whole life. She moved to the big city of San Antonio to attend Incarnate Word Nursing School, graduating as an R.N. and becoming a surgical nurse at Santa Rosa Hospital. Mary met the love of her life, 1st Sergeant Talmadge (Tal) Simmons of Central Florida, on a blind date to a USO dance where they began their love of dancing together. They married and made their home in north San Antonio.

They were very involved in raising their five children. Mary spent time both as a working mom and a stay-at-home mom. From scouting, athletics, FFA, to choir and many other activities, she supported her kids in every way she could. For 35 years, at their home on 3 acres in Shavano Park, she enjoyed gardening along with canning and preserving the fruits of their large garden and orchard. She loved bowling, Altar Society, and assisted as a volunteer school nurse at St. Gregory Catholic Elementary School. Along with Tal, she had such good times entertaining family and friends, and hosted more BBQs than you could count along with volleyball, horseshoes, and having musical jam sessions. One of her favorite things in life was being with extended family whether it be at the family farm in Devine, various Texas towns, and at Lake Wales and Tampa, Florida. She also dearly loved outings with friends from Handy Andy where her husband worked for 33 years.

As her children grew up she returned to nursing as an R.N. at several nursing homes. She was very dedicated and much needed in providing care and compassion to her patients. After this she worked for Baptist Health Systems training other nurses. She also adored spending much time with her grandchildren whether at home or spending time watching them in their activities. After Tal passed away, she enjoyed traveling with her sister, Sr. Sylvia, AKA the N&N sisters (nurse/nun). Mary attended many church activities and became a Eucharistic Minister at St. Francis of Assisi, ministering both at Masses and in Ministry to the Homebound bringing Holy Communion to those who were no longer able to come to Mass. She was a woman of prayer in many ways including saying the daily Rosary. The Lord was her greatest consolation.

Mary Schmidt Simmons was a phenomenon in being happy and able to live on her own with help from her dedicated children until the age of 92. She was a blessing to everyone she knew! In her last days on Earth, she continually remarked on how much she desired to be in Heaven with the Lord and her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Joseph, George, Julius, Francis, Patricia (Sr. Sylvia), Kenneth (Kenny); her beloved husband of 51 years, Talmadge (Tal) Simmons, her son, Richard and her daughter-in-law Lorie Simmons. Mary is survived by her children, Dennis Simmons (Terry), Ernie Simmons (Angela), Jim Simmons, Don Simmons (Holly), Beth Shepherd (Casey); and 9 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous extended family members.

We would like this to be a celebration of Mary’s life. Please wear bright colors to the services. The family will receive visitors beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, January 19, 2024 at Porter Loring Mortuary North.

November 28, 1962 – December 2, 2023

Norman Howard Bahr passed away peacefully on December 2, 2023. Howard is survived by his wife, Stephanie Bahr; children, Jennifer Bagley (Allen), Norman Thomas Bahr, and Sharon Bahr; 3 grandchildren, Rose Marlene Bagley, George Adrian Bagley, and Patrick Howard Bagley. He is also survived by his parents, Norman Robert and Patrica Bahr and his brother David Bahr (Trudy).

A private family celebration of his life will be held at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 4201 DeZavala Rd. on December 5, 2023 with a reception after in Henke Hall. Interment will be held at a later date in Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, CA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to either any organization at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church or any cancer research of your choice.