Ambrosio B. Garcia December 7, 1937- October 3, 2012

After battling ten long years with chronic illnesses, Ambrose died at the age of 74 at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Baldwin Park, Ca. on October 3, 2012. He was born Ambrosio B. Garcia on December 7, 1937 in Eagle Pass, Texas to the parents of Atanacio and Maria Garcia Bermudez. He was born the 7th son of 9 children. He is survived by his sisters Amanda Garza and Juanita Salas, and brother Fermin. Ambrose worked for Mancha Meat Market, enlisted in the United State Air Force at the young age of 17. After being discharged, he came to California to be with his family, worked at Scandinavia Airlines, the United States Postal Service, which after 25 years of employment he retired in 1992. Ambrose married Toni de la Garza, daughter of Jacinto and Cuquita de la Garza Siller in May of 1965 and together had two daughters Patty and Sylvia. Ambrose and Toni made their home in Baldwin Park, CA where they have lived for 47 years. A memorial mass was held on October 20, 2012 at St. John’s The Baptist Catholic Church in Baldwin Park, California

Helen Sue (Sudie) Stroman Drake, age 90 of Seguin, passed away on November 3, 2012.  Visitation will be held on Friday, November 9, 2012 at Tres Hewell Mortuary from 2 to 7 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 5 to 7 p.m.  Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at Tres Hewell Mortuary Chapel with Chaplain Rhonda Robbins officiating.  Interment will follow in Monthalia Lutheran Cemetery in Gonzales County. Sudie was born on March 8, 1922 in Uvalde, Texas to William B. and Annie Menke Stroman.  She attended Eagle Pass Schools graduated as Valedictorian from Eagle Pass High School.  In 1941 she attended Texas Lutheran College (TLU) and was a proud member of the Class of 1942.  She married Harrell Drake on February 6, 1943 and traveled around the world with him in the United States Ari Force until he retired to Seguin in 1964.  In May of 2012 she moved to Alz-Care in New Braunfels.    Sudie is preceded in death by her loving husband of 69 years, Harrell M. Drake, her daughter, Patricia Drake, her parents, her brothers, Freddy Stroman and Leroy Stroman and his wife Annabelle. Survivors include three daughters and their husbands, Lynda and George Grisham, Elaine and Basil Shields, and Liz and David McFarland; 8 grandchildren who affectionately knew her as Neeno, Julie and Jon Snyder, Bryan and Courtney Schmidt, Brad and Erin Schmidt, Michelle and Noah Steinberg,  Scott and Angelica Driggers, Laura and John Nash, Erika and Dean Braune, Andrea and Gary Taylor; and 17 great grandchildren; a brother and his wife, Bill and Nancy Stroman; sister-in-law, Pat Stroman; numerous nieces and nephews, close friends  and neighbors.  Serving as pallbearers will be Jon Snyder, Bryan Schmidt, Noah Steinberg, John Nash, Scott Driggers, Dean Braune, Brad Schmidt and Gary Taylor.  In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be given to Guadalupe Regional Hospice, 1215 East Court, Seguin, TX 78155,Faith Lutheran Church, 1326 E. Cedar, Seguin, TX 78155 and/or the Alzheimer’s Association, 7400 Louis Pasteur Dr, #200, San Antonio, TX 78229-4542 or to the charity of one’s choice.  You are invited to sign the guest book at www.treshewell.com.  Arrangements are under the direction of Tres Hewell Mortuary, 165 Tor Dr., Seguin, Texas, 78155, 830-549-5912.

San Antonio, TX

State Senator Carlos Uresti emerged unscathed from his latest challenge from Tea Party Republican Michael Berlanga, a race the Texas Tribune recently included on their list of 20 races to watch. Final results available Wednesday morning show the incumbent won reelection 118,771 (61%) to 75,756 (39%) for the challenger. “My campaign focused on what I have made a priority during my time in the legislature-- our children, said Uresti. “Tonight voters confirmed our state needs to make education a priority next session, and that under-funded schools and a sky high Hispanic drop-out rate are unacceptable. The message I heard on the campaign trail is clear, our State must restore funding to our child abuse prevention programs that were de-funded last session. No child should pay the price of another two years of inaction.” District 19, one of the largest legislative districts in the country spans from southern Bexar county to the Mexico border, and tops out in the Permian basin of far West Texas. District 19 is majority minority, conservative, with a large population of elementary age minority children that represent the future demographic make-up of Texas. “I look forward to continuing to work hard on behalf of my constituents,” Uresti said “While the needs of a growing district may be great, the opportunities presented are far greater. We must work together to meet our challenges. Texas is our home, and we’re doing a lot right, but Texas can be even better.”