Elva Sophie Bender

A prayer service will be held on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at 6:30 pm at Buffington Funeral Home Chapel in Shiner, Texas. Funeral Services are under the direction of Buffington Funeral Home and will be held on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at 10:00 am at Dr. Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Shiner, Texas with Reverend Elaine Gomulka officiating. Interment will follow at Shiner City Cemetery Memorial Gardens.

Elva was brought into the Christian community through her Baptism on Sept. 8, 1918 by the Rev. WC Wolfsdorff at the Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Dreyer, Texas. She affirmed her faith in Christ at her Confirmation on March 25, 1934 by Rev. Richard Schuetze at the same church. She attended Menger School near Shiner.

She was united in marriage to Victor Bender on December 14, 1941 by the Rev. Richard Schuetze in the United Dr. Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Shiner, Texas. In July of 1942, she joined her husband, who was serving with the Coast Guard in the US Army during World War II, in Hartford, Connecticut. When Victor was sent overseas, Elva returned home to live with her parents. When her husband returned home in December of 1945, they made their home in Shiner. She started work at Kaspar Wire Works in May of 1964 and retired in 1989, after 25 years of service.

Elva was a faithful member of the United Dr. Martin Luther Lutheran Church, Lutheran Ladies Aid, American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, and the Home Demonstration Club. She was active in her church’s quilting group and volunteered at various other church functions, as well as volunteering at the Shiner Nursing & Rehab Center for many years. Elva was a hard-working, strong, humble lady who was devoted to her family and her Lord. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family. Elva also enjoyed dancing, quilting, sewing, cooking, and playing bingo and dominoes.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, 4 brothers (Victor, Melvin, Harold, and Kermit), a sister (Thelma Langhoff) and grandson Travis Gold. She is survived by 2 daughters: Gloria Jean (Victor) Jasek of Moulton and Iris Elaine (Ronald) Renken of Shiner. 6 grandchildren: Michelle (Glenn) Kalina of Shiner, Shannon (Bradley) Baker of Moulton, Lori (David) Filip of Shiner, Dana (Steven) Blahuta of Moulton, Amy (Billy) Gerke of Hallettsville, and Kevin (Shelley) Renken of Ganado. 13 great-grandchildren: Kayla Gold; Breana Renken; Dillon, Madison & Mallory Kalina, Conner, Colby & Karsyn Blahuta; Ty & Layne Gerke; Kalli Baker; Bryce & Bailey Filip. 2 sisters: Bernell Pohler & Helen Zimmerman and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers for Mrs. Bender will be; Glenn Kalina, Bradley Baker, David Filip, Steven Blahuta, Billy Gerke and Kevin Renken.

The family request memorials be made to: Dr. Martin Luther Lutheran Church / P.O. Box 26 / Shiner, Texas 77984, or Accolade Hospice / 222 W. Grand / Yoakum, Texas 77995.

To join the family in celebrating Elva’s life, and to offer words of comfort online, please go to: www.buffingtonfuneralhomeshiner.com