SYLVIA GRETA KRESTA

BALLINGER - Sylvia Greta Kresta, 76, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother of Ballinger, Texas, died Friday, Dec. 30, 2005, at her home. Visitation was Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006, at Lange Funeral Home. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 2, 2006, at the First United Methodist Church in Ballinger, with the Rev. Joe Chamness officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. Sylvia was born July 10, 1929, in Ballinger, to Joe and Mary Mueller. She married Henry "Jack" Kresta Jr. on July 5, 1948. She was retired from the U.S. Postal Service, where she was a rural route carrier. Sylvia was a member of the First United Methodist Church, where she did volunteer work and was the Ballinger Fire Department's "Mom." Sylvia loved her fellowship and time with her "Bunko" friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Mary Mueller; husband Jack; and four brothers-in-law, Clarence Walker, Dan Cupp, and Melvin and Richard Kresta. Survivors include her children, Linda and husband Garry Huffman of Garden City, Elizabeth Ann and husband Harold "Harry" Thomas of San Angelo, Clyde and wife Rhonda Kresta, Timmy Kresta of Ballinger, and Tammy and husband Stanley Howell of Euless; grandchildren Greg and wife Rachel Huffman, Nicholas and wife Misty Huffman of Midland, Christopher and Clint Thomas of San Angelo, Jessica Kresta of Waco, and Dustin and David Kresta of Ballinger; great-grandsons Lee and Matthew Huffman of Midland; step-grandchildren Brandon, Amber, Lauryn and Lacie Howell of Euless; two sisters, Frances Walker of Elizabethtown, Ky., and Mary Jo Cupp of Brownwood; and one sister-in-law, Dorothy and A.J. Jones of Odessa. Those who knew Sylvia know what a beautiful lady she was inside and out. She always had a smile on her face and a kind word to say, and a genuine care for others. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. Pallbearers will be the Ballinger Fire Department. The family wishes to thank the nurses of Ballinger Home Health Care for their months of taking care of Sylvia, and to Vista Care of San Angelo. The family requests memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Ballinger or the Ballinger Fire Department. You can shed tears that she is gone Or you can smile because she has lived. You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left. Your heart can be empty because you can't see her Or you can be full of the love that you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember her and only that she is gone Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back, Or you could do what she would want: Smile, Open your eyes, Love and go on.

January 2, 2006
DUNCAN andMARY WHEELER
SYLVIA WAS ONE OF GOD'S "SPECIAL LADIES" SENT TO BRIGHTEN OUR DAYS. HER CUP WAS ALWAYS "HALF FULL"-NOTHING THAT COULD NOT BE OVERCOME SOME WAY OR ANOTHER. A LOVING MOTHER WITH TREMENDOUS PRIDE IN ALL OF HER CHILDREN SHE REACHED OUT TO THEIR FRIENDS AND ENGULFED THEM WITH HER JOY IN LIVING. WE CONSIDER IT A BLESSING TO HAVE KNOWN HER. OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. SINCERELY, DUNCAN AND MARY WHEELER

January 1, 2006
Randy Robinson
My hearts and prayers go out to the family. I will always remember as a small boy waiting by the mailbox for Sylvia, she would stop and hand me the mail and visit, she had a special talent of bringing a smile to everyones face and making you laugh.