The Monitor from McAllen, Texas • 16

2C Thursday, June 17, 1999 THE MONITOR, McAllon, Texas 1- IT i Obituaries 1 DEATH NOTICES ing. Burial will follow at Valley Memorial Gardens in McAllen. Tropic Star Ballroom In Pharr, Texas. Services were entrusted to the care of Kreidler Funeral Home Inc. inMcAllen.

A private family graveside service will be held at Highland Memorial Park in Weslaco, with the Rev. Wayne Peck Association pastor, first United Methodist Church, Harlin-gen, officiating. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of McCaleb Funeral Home in Weslaco. Espericueta of San Carlos; sisters, Julia Ybarra of Oregon, Ernestina Rodriguez of Oregon Alicia Rodriguez of Florida, Gregoria Mar-quez of Edinburg; 20 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Mass will be recited at 10 a.m.

today, June 17, 1999, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in San Carlos with Father Sam Arizpe officiating. Interment will follow at Palm Valley Memorial Gardens in Pharr. Pallbearers will be Paulo Jaime Reyes, Stephen Eric Salinas, Rubiana Reyes, (Carina Solis, Nathan Pullen and Robert Pullen. Honorary pallbearers will be Melissa Salinas, Ana Luisa Solis, Daniel Solis, Javier Andres Solis, Clarrisa Reyes and Israel Solis Jr.

She was a loving mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and friend. She will be dearly missed by everyone. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Ceballos-Diaz Funeral Home in Edinburg. with breast cancer. Arminda was born in Mercedes, Texas July 28, 1931, the eldest child of Alfonso and Olivia Gonzalez.

After graduating from McAllen High School, she began her 33-year career with Southwestern Bell. During her career with Southwestern Bell she worked in both McAllen and San Antonio, Texas. Her father, Alfonso, mother, Olivia, and brother, Juan D. Gonzalez, preceded Arminda in death. She is survived by her daughter, Jovita Olivia Flores Masters, and son-in-law, Robert J.

Masters, of Coppell, Texas. Her greatest joy was spending time with iher beloved grandchildren, Travis and Olivia Masters. Her love for family and friends will be fondly remembered. Her strength, courage and independence were an inspiration to all who knew her. Other family members include Sylvia Gonzalez de Garcia of San Antonio, Alfonso II of Angleton, Jose Javier of Houston, and Maria Elen of Hondo.

A rosary was recited at Sunset Funeral Home Chapel in San Antonio Wednesday, June 16, at 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in San Antonio today, June 17, 1999, at 10 a.m. followed by interment at Sunset Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Cancer Therapy and Research Center, P.O.

Box 1657, San Antonio, Texas 78296; in memory of Arminda Gonzalez Flores. 4" PETRAA. CHAMPION PROGRESO Petra A. Champion, 82, entered eternal rest Monday, June 14, 1999, after lengthy illness, at Knapp Center in Weslaco. Mrs.

Champion was a Christian, devoted wife, loving mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend. She was born to pioneers Alfredo S. Adame and Petra Hino-josa Jan. 6, 1917. She grew up in Mercedes and was married to Pedro B.

Champion 63 years before his death in Oct. of 1998. They made their home and raised their family in Progreso. Mrs. Champion loved to sew, quilt, work in her yard, she was a good fisher-person.

She also loved family gatherings, cooking, especially making tamales. Mrs. Champion was preceded in death by her father, Alfredo S. Adame, in 1 938, her mother Petra Hinojosa Adame, in 1970, a sister, Bertha, in 1914, and an infant son, Miguel Reynaldo Champion in 1 944, a granddaughter, Melba Jean Champion and is survived by her daughter, Yolanda (Roy) Eckhardt of McAllen, three sons, Alfredo Champion of Mercedes, Michael R. (Nancy) Champion of Santa Maria, California, Pete (Gayle) Champion of San Marcos; a sister, Amelia Adame of Mercedes; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, June 17, 1999, at Garcia Treviflo Funeral Home. The holy rosary will be prayed at 7:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mercedes.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 18, 1999, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mercedes. Interment will follow at the Catholic Cemetery in Mercedes. Pallbearers will be Anita A. Champion, Roy L.

Eckhardt Benjamin P. Champion, Peter M. Champion, Leonard R. Champion and Michael Ochoa. Honorary pallbearers will be.

Jerry Champion, Robert Champion and Joe Martinez. Arrangements have been entrusted to Garcia Trevifio Funeral Home in Mercedes. Grandma, you gave us so much love. We love you. We 'II miss you and remember you always.

We'll keep you in our hearts and prayers. You are in a better place. You are at rest with Grandpa. Give him our love. Your grandchildren.

ARMINDA GONZALEZ FLORES IRIVING, Texas Arminda Gonzalez Flores, 67, passed away Monday, June 14, 1999, at Baylor Medical Center in Irving, Texas, after a courageous 11 -year battle NORA B. RUFFING WESLACO Nora Ruffing, 88, died Sunday, June 13, 1999, at Valley Grande Manor in Weslaco after a lengthy illness. She was born Sept. 10, 1910, in Wayne County, to Otho and Nettie Ellis Bratton of Johnsonville, Illinois. She married Charles E.

Ruffing on Nov. 13, 1933, in Barrington, III. In 1952 the Ruffing family moved to Weslaco, Texas, where Mr. Ruffing farmed and began his construction business. Nora was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church of Weslaco.

Nora was a housewife and the mother of four children, Barbara Ruffing Crockett of Donna, Charles O. Ruffing (Linda) of Laredo, Diane Ruffing Hoelscher of Weslaco, and Betsy Ruffing Droste of Fountain Hills, Ariz. She was a devoted and loving grandmother to 18 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren. Her four children; 17 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren survive her. Three sisters, Dorothy Rolling and Neva Meyer of Elgin, III.

and Phyllis Christian of Algonquin, and two brothers, Thomas Bratton of Algonquin, 111., and Dale Bratton of Everett, and numerous nieces and nephews also survive her. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles E. Ruffing, in April 1993; her grandson, Terry Crockett, in September 1998; her mother, Nettie Bratton, in 1 969; her father, Otho Bratton, in 1974; and one sister and three brothers. Visitation will be at McCaleb Funeral Home in Weslaco from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

today, Thursday, June 1 7, 1 999, and the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 1 8, 1 999, with graveside services at Val Verde Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Donna. Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren. The family of Nora Ruffing would like to express their gratitude and love for all the compassion, gentle care, love and support she received from her family of friends and the nurses, aides, doctors and staff of Valley Grande Manor of Weslaco.

Memorials may be given to Faith Lutheran Church, 300 S. Border Weslaco, Texas 78596. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of McCaleb Funeral Home in Weslaco. MAX ARLINGTON WEDDEL PHARR Max Arlington Wed-del, 83, died Tuesday, June 15, 1 999, at his home in Pharr. Mr.

Weddel was born in Arcadia, Neb. and had been a Valley resident for 20 years. He was a retired railroad engineer. Survivors include his wife, Frances L. Weddel of Pharr, Texas; four sons, James R.

Weddel of Gaithersburg, Maryland, Charles M. Weddel of Littleton, John Weddel of Lincoln, Neb. and Gary F. Weddel of Kearney, and daughter-in-law, Marilyn K. Weddel of Denver, Col.

He was preceded in death by his son, Raymond S. (Stan) Weddel. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 19, 1999, at BUSINESS ROSA MARIA VASQUEZ MISSION Rosa Maria 70, passed away Wednesday, June 16, 1999, at her residence in Mission. She is survived by her husband, Jose Guadalupe Vasquez of Mission; two sons, Florentino and Jose Fer-min Vasquez, both of Mission; four daughters, Maria Guadalupe Ayala of Edinburg, Teresa Cassiano, Matilde Vasquez and Mary Ellen De La Rosa, all of Mission; two brothers and two sisters; 25 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today, June 17, 1999, at Flores Chapel. Funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Friday, June 18, 1999, at San Martin de Porres Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Valley Memorial Gardens in McAllen.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Flores Funeral Home of Mission. LIBRADA E. SOLIS EDINBURG Librada E. Solis, 75, in loving memory of our beloved mother who came to this earth on Aug. 17, 1923, and was called back home by the Lord on Tuesday, June 15, 1999.

She will be joining her husband, Francisco Solis, and son, Heralio Solis. Mrs. Solis was a pioneer in San Carlos, opening a grocery store with her husband in 1939 up to 1988. Mrs. Solis will always be known for taking pride in her garden.

She is survived by her children, Amador (Julia) Solis of Cleveland, Texas, Aurora (Thomas) Reyes of Edinburg, Israel (Rosa) Solis of Donna, Ofelia (Jesus) Salazar of Alamo, Consuelo (Michael) Pullen of Sharyland, Veronica (Guadalupe) Salinas of Mission, Emma Solis of Houston, Erasmo (Clabelia) Solis of McAllen; brothers, Federico Espericueta Jr. of Oregon, and Clemente rv pi fT" MERCEDES No local services are pjlined for Teresa Garcia, 93, who tGed June 15, 1999, at her residence. Arrangements are under the direction of Guerra Funeral Home in Weslaco. ED1NBURG Funeral arrangements for Vicki Andrade, 45, who Jiied June 14, 1999, in Venus, Texas, are pending with Ceballos-Diaz Funeral Home in Edinburg. DONNA Funeral arrangements for Lonnie Eugene Storm, who died June 14, 1999, are pending with yaughan Funeral Home in Donna.

FUNERALS TODAY MISSION Funeral Mass for Domingo Teodoro Ortiz will be held at 2 p.m. today, Thursday, June 17, 1999, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Service and cremation arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Flores Funeral Home of Mission. EDINBURG Funeral services for Librada Solis will be held at 10 a.m. today, Thursday, June 1 7, 1999, at Str Joseph the Worker Catholic Church.

Burial will follow at Palm Valley Memorial Gardens in Pharr, under the direction of Ceballos-Diaz Funeral Home in Edinburg. OBITUARIES MARY GRACE COOK EDINBURG Mary Grace Cook passed away at Briarcliff Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in McAllen on Monday, June 14, 1999, following a lengthy illness. She was born March 7, 1920, in Detroit, Mich. She was preceded in death by her father, Victor Reginald Ogden; her mother, Mary Kidwell Ogden; and her brother. Jack Ogden.

She is survived by her husband, JR. (Ray) Cook of Edinburg; her son, Daniel R. Cook of Edinburg; her daughter, Sharon (Jim) Greenwood of Weslaco; her grandson. Wade Greenwood of San Francisco; and her two granddaughters, Kelly and Mandy Greenwood of Weslaco. After graduating from Michigan State University in 1942 with a degree in hospital dietetics, she.

volunteered for service in the Army Air serving as a dietician with the rank of 1st lieutenant at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin until 1945. During her tour of duty, i i r. i I .1 sne mei ner iuiure nusoanu wno was a pilot stationed at the same base. After marrying on Aug. 30, 1947, she moved to College Station, Texas while her husband attended Texas University.

In 1951, they moved to the Rio Grande Valley, where she raised her family and remained until her death. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Edinburg. Directory of Funeral Homes Cavazos Memorial Chapel 201 N. Broadway, Elsa 262-1341 Ceballos-Diaz 322 E. Kuhn, 383-493 Ceballos Funeral Home 1023 N.

23 Pharr De Leon Funeral Home 70Q E. Pharr 787-2231 Donna Memorial Funeral Home 501 Salinas 461-6000 Floret Funeral Home 219 W. Mayberry, Mission Garcia Trevlno Funeral Home 439 S. Vermont, Mercedes 565-2261 Gonzalei Funeral Home 812 E. Cano, Edinburg Hernandez Funeral Home 701 E.

Eisenhower Rio Grande, TX 78582 Kreidler Funeral Home 314 N. 10th, McAllen 686-0234 Memorial Funeral Home 312 E. Expwy. 83. San Juan Riven Funeral Home 1901 Pecan, McAllen JtVaughan Funeral numc 1701 E.

Bus. 83 Donna, TX 78537 464-3661 Sanchez Funeral Home 118 3. Kain, Rio Grande 487-2525 Skinner-Silva Funeral Home 706 W. Sam Houston Pharr 787-2244 Skinner-Silva Funeral Home 122 W. Samano, Edinburg VirgH Wilson Mortuary 8O0 N.

Main McAllen Virgil Wilson Mortuary 2200 N. Conway, Mission For Advert is ing Information Call 971-1853 ROBERT STANLEY HAGER HOUSTON Robert Stanley Hager, 77, of Houston, passed away Sunday, June 13, 1999. He was born in Alta Loma, Calif, on Aug. 16, 1921, and was the son of John and Delia Hager. The family moved to Weslaco," Texas, in 1 934 where his father was associated with the Texsun citrus plant.

He graduated from Weslaco High School and volunteered for the Navy where he served for four years during WW II and attained the rank of chief petty officer. Bob spent his professional career as a produce broker and is widely known in that business in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, the High Plains, and Dallas, Texas. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Marjorie Stevenson Hager; their children, Robert A. Hager of Houston, Peggy ZarcOne and her husband, Tony, of Denver, Col. and Heidi Hager of Houston; their grandchildren, Carson, Mary and Andrew Hager of Houston, Heather Byrne of Los Angeles, and Jordan Byrne of Boulder, and close family friends, Paulette Blount and Megan Marler of Houston.

Although a member of St. Stephen Episcopal Church of Houston, private services have already been held. NOTICE: Death notices and funeral announcements are provided free of charge by The Monitor as a public service. For families who want a complete story, inlcuding photograph, an obituary is available for a nominal charge. Information will be accepted only from an established funeral home.

The deadline is 3 pm. daily. For information on obituaries and billing, call 686-4343 and contact Yoli Garza at ext. 297. MAR AM JOSEPHINE KUHN ARLINGTON Mariam Josephine Kuhn, 91, passed away Saturday, June 12, 1999, at her residence in Arlington.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1984. She was born Oct. 30, 1907 in Madison, Mo. Married Eugene Frederick Kuhn in St. Louis, and moved in 1950 to the Valley.

Josephine held a BS degree from Northeastern University of Kirksville, Mo. She was a teacher for 37 years and a member of the DAR. She was a member of San Juan Methodist Church. She taught the C.O.M. class for 1 3 years, sponsored the Jr.

MYF for two years, was past president of the Weslyan Service Guild, was chairman of the church board for three years, was president of the Methodist Church Circle and served as director of Pan Am Round Table. She was president of the San Juan Music Club, life member of the McAllen International Museum and a life member of the Auxiliary at the McAllen Medical Center. She was a life member of Retired Teachers Association and served as a chairman and past member of Mid-Valley Book Club. She is survived by two daughters; Susan Brocks of Comfort, Texas, and Nancy Martin of Arlington, Texas; one son-in-law Dr. Randall Martin; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. today, June 17, 1999, at Skinner-Silva Funeral Home in Pharr. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, June 18, 1999, at San Juan United Methodist Church with Pastor Barry Bauerschlag officiat- Grocery store chain sparks price war over milk upstate By STEFANI KOPENEC The Associated Press cant drop in milk prices in April, when the price paid to producers dropped by 53 cents per gallon, she said. "The price war wouldn't affect the producers in particular as much as the price of the product they are selling," Jordan said.

"I think the grocery stores started using (milk) as a loss leader to bring customers into their stores, because the price they were having to pay for their raw product had decreased considerably," Jordan said. While Kroger shoppers are limited to four gallons of milk, Huddleston acknowledged the chain is losing some money on the item. He said it is not uncomnon in the business to "make the loss up on other items in the store that we have priced competitively but certainly would have a profit in." For now, the director at King Arthur's Castle of Little Tikes in Sunnyvale plans to shop around for the 20 gallons of milk the day care center uses each week. "We're just enjoying it while it lasts," said Maxine Whitton. "They'll probably all stop doing that within two or three weeks.

A good thing can't last forever." and buy four gallons, and I don't worry about it." A Kroger spokesman said his company was the first to cut prices from $2.59 to 99 cents a gallon at its stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and farther east in Nacogdoches, Palestine, Marshall, Paris and Longview. While the price cut corresponded to a slight decline in raw milk prices, Kroger also wanted to increase the volume at its Fort Worth dairy and "increase the value to our customers," said Gary Huddleston of the grocer's regional office in Houston. "Some of our competitors have matched it, either in their advertising or in-store," he said "In some cases, (they) matched it for a period of time, then made a decision to go back to their regular pricing." A spokesman for Minyard Food Stores Inc. said the company matched prices for a week or 10 days but has since pulled back. Wednesday's gallon milk price was S2.89.

"We just couldn't stand the loss," he said, without giving a specific amount. "You wouldn't believe it if I told you." Albertsons has also responded to the drop in price in the Dallas-Fort Worth market. "Seems to me like it's cheaper to drink milk than water these days," said spokesman Tommy Stoneham. "How long this might continue cannot be determined at this point," said another Albert-sons spokeswoman, Anne Alenskis. "We will continually monitor the competitive situation, and then make that determination." Tom Thumb shoppers can find milk selling for 99 cents a gallon instead of the regular $2.59, said spokeswoman Connie Yates.

The chain plans to keep milk prices competitive, Yates said. "It's just part of our business." Huddleston of Kroger said he can't predict how long the situation will last "As long as the wholesale price of milk remains lower, we plan on passing that along to the customer," he said. Ellen Jordan, a Texas Agricultural Extension Service dairy specialist in Dallas, said milk producers will be getting nearly 9 cents more per gallon on July 1 for the raw product that is sold for further processing and bottling. The anticipated increase follows a signifi DALLAS Holy Cow! Milk for 99 cents a gallon! People in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and points east have been seeing a deep discount after one grocery store chain lowered its milk prices, triggering a price war. The moooove started about a month ago, and visitors to the dairy case can still find a big break on the food staple at chains such as Kroger, Albertsons and Tom Thumb.

"I love it. I'm in heaven. We can make our house payment" said Elise Bowden of Hurst, whose eight children (ages 2 to 16 years old) drink approximately 15 gallons per week. The probation officer said she makes a concerted effort to find reasonably priced milk and drives to various stores in search of a bargain. "I'll go where the milk's on sale," she said Wednesday.

"We use that much." "When it got up to around $3 a gallon, I actually had to start rationing them. 'You need to start drinking Now I go to the store.