Emma Tripp

Emma was born on January 24, 1934 to Fidel Mendoza, Sr., and Emma Martinez Mendoza. She graduated from Fox Tech High School, class of 1952, in San Antonio, Texas. Her office and secretarial skills provided her a career with great job opportunities, and she retired from Texas Instruments, Inc., with 27 years of service as an Executive Secretary.

In 1955, Emma met, fell in love with, and married Buddy Earl Tripp, USAF instructor flight engineer, stationed at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. They were married for 66 years, and are the proud parents of two beautiful daughters, Sandra Joy Iltis, and Nancy Tripp Howell. Over the years, Emma brought the family together to celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and many family birthdays and holidays. She treasured time spent with family ~ we will treasure her lifetime of unconditional love, eternal optimism, and teaching us the enduring gift of Faith.

Emma enjoyed the Air Force life with her husband and their daughters while stationed in West Palm Beach, Florida; Tinker AFB in Oklahoma; Dover AFB in Delaware; Hickam AFB, Hawaii; McClellan AFB in California, and finally retiring in Austin, Texas.

Emma is survived by her faithful and loving husband Buddy; daughter Sandi and husband Wayne Iltis; daughter Nancy and husband Matt Howell. Grandchildren Lindsey McCasland and husband Bryan, Lauren Cooper and husband Derek, Dane Simpson, and Cody Iltis. Great grandchildren Lilly Simpson, Kai and Max Cooper, and Dallas McCasland.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to JOL (Journey of Life) Healthcare Hospice of Austin. Words cannot express our appreciation for the kind compassion the hospice staff extended not only to Emma, but to our family who remained by her side.

A private family service has been planned.