Emma Lou Voges

Emma Lou was born on September 20, 1918, in Lexington, Texas, to Ed and Emma Peterson. She grew up in a loving family which remained true to its German heritage and spoke only German at home. The family migrated to Pawnee, Texas, in 1925, where Papa Peterson bought a farm. Emma Lou graduated from Pawnee High School in 1936, valedictorian of her class. She attended Southwest Texas State Teachers' College and became a school teacher in a two room schoolhouse in Zuehl, Texas.

In 1939, she married Alton Henry Voges, another Texan of German descent. Emma Lou's three brothers and one brother-in-law all served in World War II.

In the late 1950's, Emma Lou enrolled at Trinity University and completed her degree in 1962. She then taught school at Agnes Cotton Elementary for about twenty years, retiring in the 1980's.

Family and friends were important to her, and she was always ready for a game of Scrabble or 42. Serving God and others was the principal focus of her life, and she was a tireless volunteer for her church and community. She was a member of Coker United Methodist Church for over thirty years, and a lifelong member of the United Methodist Women.

Emma Lou was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Alton, sisters Marie Weiss of Brenham and Flora Cunningham of Three Rivers, brothers Frank Peterson of Alice and Harding (Pete) Peterson of Beeville, brothers-in-law August Weiss and Marvin Cunningham, sister-in-law Jean Patterson, and son-in-law Dick Lear. She is survived by brother John Peterson (Bernice) of Kerrville, sister-in-law Mary Peterson of Beeville, daughters Rev. Gloria Lear of Corpus Christi and Grace James (Jay) of San Antonio, five grandchildren who were very precious to her: John Mark Veltman (Sandra) of Corpus Christi, Laura Ball (Bob) of Grapevine, Tom Elliott (Laurie) of Beaumont, Rebecca Woodland (Will) of San Antonio, and Angela Elliott (Tom Everard) of Austin; great grandchildren Carter and Abigail Ball, Katherine Veltman, Gavin, Garrett, and Brynn Woodland, Ansley and Liliana Elliott, and Violet Everard, eleven nephews, four nieces, and a host of dear friends and former students. The family's appreciation goes to Lupe Fuentes and her staff for their kind care.

The family will receive friends from 6:00-9:00 P.M. on Monday, October 24, at Porter Loring Mortuary North.

Rev. Dr. Barbara Galloway will officiate. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Coker United Methodist Church.