Virginia G. Estrada

Virginia G. Estrada, 92, of Brownsville, TX, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 16, 2010, following a brief illness. She was born in Brownsville, TX, October 31, 1917, the only child of Juan and Virginia Garza, who preceded her in death. Having just celebrated her 70th wedding anniversary on October 6, she is survived by the love of her life, Carlos A. Estrada, whom she married in 1940. Virginia was educated in Brownsville at Incarnate Word Academy and Villa Maria High School, where she graduated in 1935. She also attended Brownsville Business College at night in the late thirties developing her business skills while working full time and completed her studies there about the time she met a dashing young engineer from California, who would become her lifelong devoted partner of seventy years.

After starting a family with Carlos and living in Mexico City during World War II while her husband attended to air defense duties in the aviation industry, the couple returned to Brownsville in 1947 and settled here. Mrs. Estrada combined her business skills with a natural artistic talent and for many years operated her own business, Ceramics by Virginia. She was a renowned artist, skilled in multiple artistic media, but excelled as a ceramics and porcelain art teacher. She exhibited her work at the State Fair of Texas and received blue ribbons for her art. She served as past president of the Business Professional Womens Club of Brownsville, TX, and held office with the State Federation of Porcelain Art Clubs of Texas. Even in her last days this year, she continued to conduct private classes in her home in china painting, and introduced this art to multiple generations in South Texas and Northern Mexico.

Virginia Estrada was first and foremost the Matriarch of the Estrada family, and in keeping with her religious education was a devout Catholic, a devoted member of St. Josephs Catholic Church in Brownsville, TX, and a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Bishop Adolph Marx 1988. She imparted to her children and grandchildren the importance of devotion to their Creator, and a lifestyle of honor, honesty and service to others. Among the many sacrifices Virginia would endure during her long life, none surpassed the lost of her first two children, Captain Carlos A. Estrada, Jr., a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, who was killed in action in 1970, while serving his country in the Republic of Vietnam, and Virginia Estrada, a daughter who died in infancy.

In addition to her husband, Carlos, she is survived by two sons, Robert A. Estrada and his wife, Catherine, of Fort Worth, TX Jorge L. Estrada of Brownsville, TX and a daughter, Laura V. Estrada, and her husband, Paul Hermann, of Dallas, TX. She is also survived by seven granddaughters, Camela Estrada, Christina Estrada, Monica Estrada Browne, and her husband, Daniel, Lily Estrada, Marissa Estrada Spannaus, and her husband, Matt, Rachel Estrada and Virginia Gina Estrada. She is also survived by two great grand children, Taylor Grant Patterson.

Visitation for Virginia Estrada will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a Holy Rosary at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 19, at DarlingMouser Funeral Home. Family will be greeting friends and relatives at 6:00 p.m. A Catholic mass celebrating her life will be held at St. Josephs Catholic Church at 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 20.All services will conclude at the church.

Pallbearers are Daniel Browne, Matt Spannaus, Noe Hinojosa Jr., Salvador Castaeda, Emilio Crixell Jr., and Les Aistrich. Honorary Pallbearers include Dr. Roberto Robles, Emilio Crixell, Tony Gonzalez and Jose E. Martinez.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Carlos A. Virginia G. Estrada Scholarship Endowment at the University of Texas at Brownsville, 80 Fort Brown, Brownsville, TX 78520.

Visitation

DarlingMouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78520
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
3:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.

Service

Rosary

DarlingMouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78520
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
7:00 p.m.

Mass of Christian Resurrection

St. Joseph Catholic Church
555 W. St Francis
Brownsville, TX  78520
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
3:00 p.m.

Memorial Contributions

UTB/TSC Office of Developement
Brownsville, TX  78520