Elena G. Guerra

Elena Garcia Guerra went to be with the Lord on November 17, 2015. Elena was born on January 12, 1920, in Realitos, Texas, to parents Rafael and Ester Garcia. She lived most of her life in Hebbronville, Texas. Following graduation from Hebbronville High School in 1940, Elena left for Corpus Christi to start training for a job at the Naval Base. When World II was declared, she went to a recruiting station and enlisted in 1942. Two weeks later, she was sent for basic training in Camp Polk, Louisiana. She was the shipped to Ft. Sheridan, Illinois where she completed her training in the Language and Secretarial Military School. She then signed for service in the European Theater and was given orders for overseas duty in England arriving with the group of WCA’s on D-Day. While in London, she worked as a plotter and statistician on bomb maps dropped on London. Later, she was assigned to the staff of Colonel Campbell who needed a staffer fluent in Spanish. As a member of the Colonel’s staff she was stationed in France, Italy, and eventually Weisbaden, Germany after the defeat of the Germans. While waiting for orders to return home, Mrs. Guerra was given the opportunity to attend beauty school in France where she received here French beautician’s license. She returned stateside on November 1945 and got her Texas beautician’s license. She wed her husband, Armando Guerra in 1948 and raised three children, Marianela, Armando, Jr. and Roberto. She operated Elena’s Beauty Shop out of her home for over 60 years. Her business flourished because all her small town customers became lifetime friends, who patronized her services. The service to her country became a source of great pride for her, and thereafter her family and friends became a devoted audience of her exciting war tales. Elena is preceded in death by her husband, Armando Guerra; son, Roberto Eloy Guerra; brothers, Rafael Garcia, Jr. and Nicolas Garcia and parents, Rafael and Ester Garcia. She is survived by her daughter, Marianela (Jose Luis) Ramos; son, Armando Guerra, Jr. of Hebbronville; sister, Maria Garcia of Corpus Christi, Texas; two grandchildren, Jose Luis Ramos, Jr. and Rene Ovidio (Diana) Ramos of Austin, Texas and sister-in-law, Elia Garcia of Hebbronville. A Memorial Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Hebbronville with visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. Family will hold a private burial at a later date. The family would like to express their gratitude to all the wonderful caregivers who were by her side so devotedly; Nurses on Wheels, Hospice Team, Med Team and the Laredo and Valley Veteran’s Clinics. A special appreciation is extended to Martina Guerrero, Concepcion Ramos, Guadalupe Carreon and Elena’s niece Letty Salinas for their care and love for our mother.