Alma B. Avots-Avotins

Alma B. Avots-Avotins, 93, of Temple, Texas died Sunday, August 30, 2015. Alma was born in Europe on September 22, 1921 to Janis and Minna Jakans Bulitis in Riga, Latvia. She graduated from high school in Riga in 1939. Her post-secondary education was interrupted by World War II. During the war, she worked in several military hospitals and refugee camps throughout northern Europe. Following the war, she immigrated to England for a period of two years. In 1950, she married Karlis V. Avots-Avotins, M.D. in Muenster, Germany and the following year, Alma and Karlis immigrated to the United States. They resided in Bethesda, Maryland, where both were employed by Suburban Hospital of Bethesda. Alma worked in the hospital nursery and pursued further training in nursing skills, while her husband continued his medical residency training in general surgery. In 1953, the couple moved to Carthage, South Dakota, where Karlis pursued a general medical private practice and Alma served as his nurse and office manager. In 1957, Alma and her husband relocated to Marlin, Texas, where Karlis joined the staff of the Veteran's Administration Hospital as a general surgeon. When the V.A. Surgery Department in Marlin was closed in 1968, they moved to Temple where Karlis joined the Department of Surgery at the Olin Teague Veteran's Administration Hospital in Temple, Texas. Alma resided in Temple for 47 years, until her death. Alma was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Marlin, Texas and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Temple, Texas. She was an active member of several service organizations and clubs, including the V.A. McCloskey's Women's Club, Bell County China Painting Club, Meals-on-Wheels and was a V.A. hospital volunteer. Alma enjoyed many hobbies, including gardening, china painting and needlework. She was known for her hand painted bluebonnet china pieces and was a frequent instructor of floral china painting techniques. Alma was a kind and loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was always courteous to all and enjoyed carrying on the traditions of her Latvian heritage with family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Karlis V. Avots-Avotins, M.D. and her sister, Elvira Mekons of Latvia. Survivors include her sons, Andrejs Eriks Avots-Avotins, M.D. and wife, Gail Brown Avots-Avotins of Temple, TX; Peter Emils Avots-Avotins, and wife, Alina P. Avots-Avotins of Corpus Christi, TX; grandchildren, Kristin Avots Murphy and husband, Donavan Kip Murphy, M.D. of San Francisco, CA; Lauren Avots Bryan and husband, Wesley Kriston Bryan of Houston, TX; Erik Kenna Avots-Avotins of Austin, Tx and great grandson, Luke William Murphy of San Francisco, CA. She is also survived by step grandchildren, Krystina T. Padilla and husband, David L. Padilla of San Antonio; Laura Ashley Tamez of Corpus Christi; Victoria R. Paiz of San Antonio; and step great grandchild, Lillie Ann Medina of San Antonio. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church or Scott & White Hospice. The family would also like to express their appreciation to the Meridian Health Center nurses and staff for their loving care and support of Alma. Services will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church on Saturday, September 12th at 10:30 am. A private family burial will follow in Marlin, Texas.