Elva Trantham, 94, passed away peacefully at home with family on Nov 15, 2025, in San Antonio, TX. Born on Aug 29, 1931, in Oconto, Wisconsin, growing up in Little Suamico, WI, the sixth of seven children of Edward and Elvira Durand. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church.
Elva grew up on the family dairy farm in Wisconsin and enlisted into the US Army, Women’s Army Corps, in 1954. She was stationed in Chicago; Heidelberg, Germany - along with Elvis Presley (whom she said had a crush on her), San Francisco and Fort Sam Houston, where she married her children’s father, Ed Trantham. She left the military when she became pregnant with her first daughter.
After reluctantly leaving the military after seven years, Elva stayed home raising her daughters, becoming a card shark and wearing her cheesehead cheering on her Green Bay Packers. She worked at Alamo Professional Optical and finally retired after 19 Years of faithful service with the Department of Defense, Kelly Air Force Base.
She was pre-deceased by her parents; siblings Ruth Hornick, Ione Pitcher, Ruby, Marvin, Wesley, and Elroy Durand; her life partner and husband Albert H. Cruz - whom she will be buried alongside.
She is a Member of the American Legion for over 40 years, Life Member of VFW Post 8541 Ladies Auxiliary and a Life Member of the Michigan DAV over 50 years where she became an Olympic-level Bingo player and made many lifelong friends.
She loved to play Canasta, Mexican Train, watching Dancing with the Stars, antagonizing her family with every Packers win and cheered on the San Antonio Spurs every chance she got. She loved to bowl, attending her grandchildren’s sporting events and beating the casino in Kinder and Lake Charles. The only thing she loved more than winning was being an amazing mother, grandmother and great-grandmother to her family, setting an example of compassion, love, and kindness.
She is the very proud mother of Wanda Jean Hallmark and Cathy Jo Bernal (Mike); six grandchildren, Tiffany (Jason) Kunzler, Vander (Bailey) Hallmark, Freddie (Sabrina) Trejo, Vincent (Kasey) Trejo, Christopher (Jordan) Bernal and Kristen Bernal; nine great grandchildren, Cora, Kaya, Davis, Rory, Freddie, Savannah, Cara, Charlotte and Cameron, due in February; and several nieces and nephews.
In honoring Elva’s life, we celebrate the enduring impact of a woman who gave so much - patiently, lovingly, and faithfully. May she rest in peace. The family would like to thank Touchstone Hospice.
