Bennie Bernal

We will miss Uncle Bennie very much. Uncle Bennie was simply a delight to know. As a long time beautician in San Antonio, he was quick witted and was fast to tell a joke. Uncle Bennie was “in” with the latest pop-culture and he loved the San Antonio Spurs as well as watching “Dancing with the Stars”. Uncle Bennie hated when both the Spurs and Dancing with the Stars would air at the same time and night. He hated having to make a choice between those two programs.

Bennie’s parents were Toribio Peña Bernal & Francisca Ramirez Sanchez, with whom he was very close.

Bennie was the oldest and is survived by his brothers and one sister: Robert & Helen; Charles & Tommie; Mary & Luis; Richard & Mary Sue; Gilbert “Red” & Linda; Bennie Donald; and Alex, deceased.

He is also survived by nieces & nephews: Cynthia & Sandra, Robert Jr.; Michelle; Elizabeth, Sheila, Mary Alice & Terry; Eddie, Sylvia, Bennie, Jr., Veronica & Doreena; Dean; Darren, Steven & Eric; and numerous grandnieces & grandnephews.

We were blessed to have uncle Bennie. He was timeless. He insisted Helen would carry calla lilies for her wedding bouquet instead of carnations. His brother Robert always told us uncle Bennie never learned how to raise the hood of a car or how to change a flat. Nevertheless uncle Bennie always gave us well thought-out Christmas gifts when we were children.

Uncle Bennie was quick witted and always made us laugh. Aunt Nena told us once when Doreena and Veronica were teenagers; they attended mass at San Fernando church in San Antonio. A woman, who they did not know, had very dyed RED hair. Uncle Bennie commented that the woman resembled Woody Wood Pecker, the cartoon character. Needless to say, Doreena and Veronica began to laugh, aunt Nena scolded the girls. Uncle Bennie enjoyed talking about other people.

As Carmen Hernandez said he was UNCLE BEN to Helen's sisters and Freddie; he was Uncle Benny to us all, no matter what generation we were in. He was a sailor, he was a fashion forward man, he was unique, and he was a friend. When uncle Bennie transferred to Rebecca Baines Johnson Retirement center in Austin, we knew uncle Bennie would never be alone. We would like to thank Rachael, Lulu, Freddie and especially Teri for all the extra tacos, cream puffs, slices of pie and meals which were given to uncle Bennie with love and most importantly for the company they gave him and the comfort knowing he could call on them anytime. In his later years, he attended many family events, and his presence was felt in every peal of laughter. He will be missed not just for the things he gave but all the parts of us he took with him.

There will be a Visitation held between 5pm and 7pm on Friday, August 10, 2012 at Cook-Walden Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville, Texas, with a Rosary at 7pm. Funeral Services will take place at 1pm on Saturday, August 10 in the Memorial Chapel of Cook-Walden Capital Parks Funeral Home. He will be buried with Military Honors at Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery.

To share condolences and memories of Bennie with his family, please visit www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com