Olivia Gonzalez Zavala, born to Julian and Isidra, nee Lopez, Gonzalez on July 7, 1936, passed away on April 12, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas from a long illness. She was surrounded by her family. She was 88 years old.
Olivia was the youngest of seven children. She attended Ursuline Academy at the downtown location. She attended San Antonio College and graduated with a medical laboratory technician degree. She married in 1959, moving to O’ahu, Hawaii with her husband, Paul, who was stationed at Schofield Barracks. Upon their return to San Antonio, she worked at Methodist Hospital for many years. She had two children, Leticia and Paul Jr. In early 1970, she left the medical field to raise her youngest child, Antonio, and assist her husband in his business. She returned to the medical field and received a degree in medical transcription from Whelan Baptist College. She worked at Wilford Hall until her retirement in the late 2000’s.
Olivia was an avid softball, volleyball and basketball player in high school and continued playing softball in her adult years. She and Paul traveled the United States from coast to coast and major cities in Europe. She loved to dance and on one cruise trip, she and Paul won a dancing contest beating out younger contestants. She also was an avid crossword puzzle fan and had many crossword books that she worked on. She also loved to sing and serenaded others at the hospital. Olivia and Paul built a wonderful life together over their sixty-five years of marriage. Olivia was a loving, hardworking and devout Catholic. She placed God foremost in her life. She always wished to honor God throughout her life, marriage, work and children.
Olivia was preceded in death by Paul Jr. and is survived by her husband, Paul, daughter Leticia, son Antonio, daughters in law, Eva and Jacquelin, grandchildren, Clarissa, Nayshla, Angelica, Olivia and Isabella, sister, Josephine Whitcher, and many nieces and nephews. She is much loved and will be greatly missed.
The family will receive friends and relatives on May 15, 2025, from 6:00 – 7:00 P.M. at Porter Loring North, 2102 N. Loop 1604 E., San Antonio, Texas, 78232. The Rosary will be at 7:00 P.M.. On May 16, 2025, Mass will be at 10:00 A.M. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 8134 Blanco Road, San Antonio, Texas, 78216. Interment will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 1:00 P.M., 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, Texas, 78209
