Bernabe L. Gonzales

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Pablo, Joe, Tony, Leandro and sisters Juanita, Carlota, Frances, Gregoria, Leonor, Felomena.

He attended Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School in Seguin. Ben was in the Army and served his country during WWII, that same year he married his wife of 70 years, Martha Carrizales. After his military service, he studied to become a barber under the apprenticeship of his sister Carlota's husband, Jose Morales. This became his life long main career, but one of many successful endeavors. After cutting many a hair from home, he was hired to manage the Randolph Air Force Base barbershop. From this, flourished a successful business, he open his first shop in Universal City, Texas, then opened a second in Schertz, Texas and his third in Seguin at 402 W. Cedar St.

In September 1970, Ben moved to Houston, Texas and opened yet another successful barbershop on Dunlavy, in the Montrose area of Houston. For 34 years he developed a large clientèle, not only in Houston, but he had clients that would travel from Schulenburg and Victoria, Texas to Houston for a haircut.

While he was running his businesses, Ben did not stop there. During his life time, he co-owned and operated two dance clubs, “The Paloma Blanca” and then “The Pan American” on Kingsbury Street, in Seguin. He was one of the founders of the Pan American Golf Association, and he was a real estate entrepreneur owning 8 properties in Seguin.

With all this, Ben always had love and time for his wife, Martha; son; two daughters; relatives; friends and his passion, golf. Ben started playing golf back in the fifties, winning many trophies and awards. He loved golf and he promoted many tournaments. He was know by golfers and friends alike as “Mr. Golf”.

Ben and Martha moved back to their beloved hometown of Seguin, to live out their lives where it was started.

Ben is survived by his wife Martha, son Ben Gonzales, Jr. (wife Cecilia), daughter Cecilia DeLaGarza (husband Danny), daughter Yolanda Uresti, his sister Augustina G. Martinez and grandchildren Marie DeLaGarza, Marc Gonzales, Cindy French, Benny Gonzales, Martha Gonzales, Jon DeLaGarza, Robbie DeLaGarza, Chrisite Uresti, Julie Uresti and 14 great grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews.

A special thanks to the staff of Guadalupe Valley Nursing Home, Warm Springs Rehab, New Braunfels, Texas & Guadalupe Regional Hospice for their loving care.

Visitation will be from 5:00PM to 8:00PM on Sunday February 17th, 2013, with a Rosary at 7PM. A funeral mass will be Monday, February 18th,11:00AM at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church with interment following at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Cemetery where military honors will be presented.