Stella G. Menchaca

MENCHACA Stella Guerrero Menchaca passed away on Sunday, June 30, 2013. She was a life-long resident of San Antonio born on June 15, 1933. Her unexpected passing ended a life that was full and active until her last moments. She passed away peacefully with her children at her side. Stella was born to Juan and Adela Guerrero. She grew up being part of the family's grocery store located at S. San Augustine and San Fernando streets. It was there that she learned her strong work ethic and indomitable stamina in any pursuit she undertook. She graduated from Fox Tech High School where she participated in many extra-curricular activities and was a top student. While raising her family, working in Civil Service at Kelly AFB, and still helping her parents at their grocery store when she could, she left no one wanting of her love or attention. Always putting someone else first, she was our personal tutor on teaching giving and showing unselfishness in our lives. Thinking of others and being thoughtful by means of doing a task for them or having a small token or gift for them when they least expected exemplified her consideration of others. Stella had retired after 32 years of Civil Service at Kelly AFB. She first worked as a secretary-stenographer and retired as a writer-editor for the Air Force Service Information and News Center Office of the Pentagon. This was her most beloved assignment of her career in the Civil Service. She received many awards and recognition during her tenure at AFSINC. After her retirement she and her husband enjoyed traveling to many countries all over the world. An avid athlete and marksman in her youth, Stella starred as a top-rate third baseman on many championship teams, a strong volleyball player in many positions, and a champion shooter in rifle competition. While she received recognition for her athletic accomplishments, she felt she received more attention from her time serving as Miss Kelly AFB and her participation in the annual San Antonio Fiesta celebrations. After being widowed in 2002, she filled her life with her grandchildren and her love of taking care of her large yard and the varied assortment of flowers and plants on her property. The fearlessness that she had as she embarked on mastering all matters of lawn equipment maintenance, household handyman projects and even removing felled trees from storms on her own, defied expectations. She developed into a master handyman reading various magazines for tips and using the internet to start and finish projects she had no logical business undertaking. She was a fixture at her grandchildren's school activities and all athletic events from TinyTot CYO to intercollegiate competitions even at times feeling compelled to share her opinion with an official about a questionable call on the field. Stella supported her grandchildren's academic endeavors from kindergarten to high school to Harvard graduations to matriculation to medical school. Stella carried a grace and beauty that at any age garnered comment. Always modest about herself, she was prideful of her children, their spouses and grandchildren. She was always our unwavering supporter in every facet of our lives. Her work ethic, integrity and willingness to stand for what is right makes us all better for having her in our lives. The love she had for the people, pets, or plants she tended to was unconditional and unending. The lessons she taught us, we carry forward to share with our children. We will remember the big events, but it will be the everyday times spent with her that linger in our memory - the smell of a freshly mowed lawn, cracking an autumn pecan just picked off the ground, or the sharing of a popsicle on the back patio. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Richard G. Menchaca. Survivors include her son, Dr. Richard G. Menchaca, Jr. and wife Laura, daughter, Roslyn G. Menchaca, grandchildren Richard Griffin Menchaca (Morgan), Ryan Alexander Menchaca, John Thomas Menchaca, Thea Junt (Don), Aaron Smith (Valter) and Robert Guy Vastano III. Brother, Raul O. Guerrero (Ninfa). She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 4, 2013 beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Porter Loring Mortuary on McCullough Ave. ROSARY THURSDAY JULY 4, 2013 7:00 P.M. PORTER LORING CHAPEL MASS FRIDAY JULY 5, 2013 10:00 A.M. ST. LUKE'S CATHOLIC CHURCH 4603 MANITOU DRIVE Interment in San Fernando Cemetery No. 2.