Linda Kristen Torrez

Linda Kristen Torrez (nee Pollard) was a loving wife and mother to Gilbert and Kristen Torrez. She was born on April 4, 1956 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and traveled often with her family as her father was stationed in the US Navy. She joined the US Air Force in 1974 after graduating Summerville High School in South Carolina and was stationed in Austin, Texas at Bergstrom Air Force Base. While stationed at Bergstrom, she met and fell in love with her husband, Gilbert R. Torrez in 1980 and the two were married at his childhood home in Georgetown, Texas on January 23, 1982. They bought their first home in Austin, Texas off Yager Lane, but within 14 months they were expecting and decided to move to Georgetown to raise their family. They lived with their daughter, Kristen in Seranada for 10 years before building their forever home. Kristen and her children still live there and continue making and sharing memories as a family. Linda was a proud Mother of the Bride when Kristen married her husband Jesse Alvin Rich in Pflugerville, Texas in 2010 and was thrilled to welcome 4 grand babies into her arms after their births. Celia Kristen (6), Kamdyn Makayle (4), Jesse Cohen (2), & Kingsley Dianne (1) love their Nana dearly. Even though Linda (Nana) had been sick, battling complications of her brain tumor removal in February 2007, she never complained and cherished every moment she spent with her family and watching her grandchildren laugh and play. She smiled with such joy seeing them smile. On Thursday, July 14, 2016, while in the Hospice Care Unit of San Antonio’s Audie Murphy Memorial VA Hospital, Linda Torrez (Mama) passed away surrounded by her Loving Husband, Gilbert, and her daughter and son-in-law, Kristen and Jesse Rich.

Throughout her life, Linda was regarded as a woman who was full of love and treated everyone she met so sweetly. Once she left the US Air Force, after 8 years of honorable service as an Administrative Assistant, she began her career with Southern Union Gas Company in 1982. She was a Customer Consultant for over 25 years and made many friends at the Gas Company throughout her time there. She was well-liked and thought of as a close friend to so many of the people she worked with. Even after Linda’s surgery in 2007, she returned to work after having suffered a stroke because it was a place of comfort and support. That was her nature; always a fighter; drawing on a strength beyond what could be expected from any person. She and her husband, Gilbert, raised their daughter, Kristen, within the Church. They attended St. Helen’s Catholic Church, where Gilbert had been raised and Kristen was baptized, for over 10 years before becoming members at Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin, Texas. At Great Hills, Linda served in the Choir and enjoyed attending Sunday School along with Morning and Evening Services. Fellowshipping throughout the week with the many friends they found filled Linda’s time after work. Wednesday Nights were a special time of fellowship that she rarely missed and Pastor Harold O’Chester held a special place in her heart along with his family. Linda had a joyful heart and loved reading. She loved studying the Bible and always enjoyed attending workshops as well as her weekly BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) meetings. Linda (Mama), loved talking through the Bible with Kristen and going over each week together, sharing a common thirst and love for Gods word. While Kristen was in college at Texas Tech University, Linda and Kristen would talk daily, as she was a huge support while her daughter was away from home. Almost all conversations would conclude with “I love you, Mama” and Linda responding “I love you too, Baby Girl”. Those special words were some of the last Kristen heard while her Mama was here with her and she will cherish them forever. Linda gave all of herself to her daughter and husband and through some difficult final moments, she shared that love with Gilbert and made sure he heard her say “I love you too” even when she hadn't been able to speak for hours. She lived for Gilbert and Kristen and they are comforted in knowing that she no longer needs to suffer, but is being held in the arms of a gracious God who knows their love for Linda and loves her more still.

Linda Kristen, a name given to her by her father when she was born, was preceded in death by her parents Charles Alfred and Marilyn June Pollard, her brother Jeffery Scott Silver, and her mother Anna Margaret Roll. In addition to her immediate family, she was preceded by her grandparents Gertrude E. and Walter Samuel Pollard as well as Maudie Bernice and Alvin Scheuffele. Linda is survived by her husband, Gilbert R. Torrez, her daughter, Kristen Marie Rich, her son-in-law, Jesse Alvin Rich and her four grandchildren, Celia Kristen Rich, Kamdyn Makayle Rich, Jesse Cohen Rich and Kingsley Dianne Rich and her two sisters Charlotte Anne Goodwin, who lives in Washington, and Tammy Dawn Silver, who lives in Florida. She will be loved and missed by her extended family as well; her mother and father-in-law Selia and Manuel Torrez, her sister-in-laws, Norma Sustaita, Nora Jeannie Correira, and Evelyn Torrez, her brother-in-laws, Robert Torrez and Sal Sustaita, her nieces and nephews Elyse Hubbard, Steven Sustaita (her God Son), Mandi Salazar, Deborah Jones, Zachary Sustaita, Antonio Tovar, Courtney Correira, Gabriella Torrez, Jacob Correira, Evan Torrez and her 3 great nephews, Zander Robbert, Aiden Conner, and Jax Nathan Hubbard.

We love you Mama. You will be in our hearts forever and always.