Manuel Olivarez Bravo

Manuel Olivarez Bravo, 86, of Kyle, Texas, was called by our Heavenly Father on Saturday, May 14, 2016. Manuel was born on August 23, 1929 Garciasville, Texas to Hilaria and Esteban Bravo. He grew up in San Juan, Texas.

In 1948 he joined the U.S. Army and became a military advisor. He was stationed in many different locations, such as Spokane, Washington, Washington D.C., Mountain View, California, Germany and Paraguay where he was positioned as a Linguist Translator. He was proud to serve his country and thankful that he was able to see the world while doing so. Manuel retired after serving 22 years.

He then went on to become an ROTC Instructor at McAllen High School, where he had the pleasure of meeting and instructing, unknowingly, his future wife’s children.

In 1984, Manuel married the love of his life, Stacy Escobar Bravo. He was a kind-hearted, loving husband. Together, they traveled all over the United States (Nebraska, Canada, Niagra Falls, Eureka Springs, Orlando, Florida, Minnesota, Ohio, Utah, and Kerrville, Texas) and created beautiful memories of their travels through pictures and stories and friendships they made along the way.

Manuel was a kind-hearted, loving, husband, father, step-father, brother, compadre, tio, grandpa and great-grandfather to many. He always had such a youthful exuberance and such a great sense of humor!

Manuel is survived by his wife, Stacy, and five children, Shari Ober (of St. Paul, Minnesota), Sam (Elva) Lopez (of Mission, Texas), David Lopez (of El Paso, Texas), Kathy (Dell) Shaw (of Austin, Texas), Linda Escobar (of Austin, Texas), brother, Eriberto (Gloria) Bravo, a very special brother, Encarnacion Aleman Jr., sister, Estelita (Robert) Quintanilla, and sister, Elida Aleman, numerous nieces and nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents, Esteban and Hilaria Bravo and his first wife, Maria Guadalupe McKinney.

A Committal Service with full military honors will be held 1:45 PM Monday, May 23, 2016 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of Zoeller Funeral Home, New Braunfels, TX.