Bernard Woltering Kirsch, better known as B.W. or Ben of Raymondville, TX passed away Friday, July 16, 2010 at the “Aurora House,” Hospice Foundation, in Weslaco, TX. He was born to R.R. and Adele (Woltering) Kirsch in St. Louis, MO on October 21, 1925.

Ben was diagnosed with Parkinsons in 2003. Although he suffered through many stages of the disease, he kept fighting to the very end.

Ben grew up with two brothers and one sister. Brothers: Robert of Recife, Brazil and Dr. Ray R. Kirsch of San Antonio and his sister, Adele Mary (Kirsch) Smith of Lyford. A few years later the Kirsch family left St. Louis, MO, and they moved to their “Castle Rock Ranch,” out of Kerrville, in the Hill Country of Texas, which they always loved. B.W. later was an engineer for Magnolia Oil Co. in West Texas and in Snyder, where he met his future wife, Dorthea Williams. They became engaged. In fact, he attended her high school graduation. They were married on August 21, 1949 and would have had their 61st wedding anniversary this year.

Welcomed to their family were two children, Cynthia Ann and Bernard Williams Kirsch, Jr.

Much later, after college, Cynthia and Ben returned home to join the family corporation. B.W. owned several ranches and farmland in Willacy and Hidalgo Co., farming vegetables, grain, cotton, sugarcane, and the Buffalo Cotton Gin and Grainary. He later invested in aquaculture, growing, “Buffalo Shrimp”, on El Sal Del Rey Ranch in Hidalgo County. B.W. had the biggest individual purchase of tractors in the U.S.A.

B.W. became interested in farming in 1952, when encouraged by his sister, and brother-in-law, A.L. and Adele Smith of Lyford. It was then that he found his true calling.

Ben was a very aggressive man, who really believed in the future, of the Rio Grande Valley, a man with a strong work ethic, also a man, who is very proud of his family, wife, Dorthea; daughter, Cyndy and son, Ben (Ginger) Kirsch, Jr.; one granddaughter, Stacie Ann (Nate) Lopez, one grandson, Zane Colton Kirsch of Smithville, TX and one greatgranddaughter, Angelia Lopez of Rio Hondo.

A sad time in Ben’s life was the passing of his sister, Adele K. Smith and A.L. Smith, Sr. of Lyford, his parents, R.R. Kirsch and Adele, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Sgt. Swayne E. (Francie) Williams and son Johnny of De Leon and motherin law and father-in-law, Retha Graham, Williams (Roy) Blackstock of Raymondville. His uncles and aunts, Cannon and Metou (Kirsch) Hearne of Kerrville, Dr. Harry and Irene Woltering of San Antonio, Clarence and Agnes Woltering, and Emil and Elizabeth Woltering of St. Louis, MO, and Ann Kirsch of San Antonio, TX. Other surviving relatives are Dr. Ray R. Kirsch, and son, Ray, Jr. of San Antonio, daughter, and sons-in-law, Drs. Ann Marie and Kevin Mazur of Pennsylvania; Robert Kirsch of Recife Brazil and daughter, Katie Ann; nephews, Dr. A.L. (Norine) Smith, Jr. and son, Aaron; Dell Smith and son, Zachary, daughter, Jessica all of Lyford. Also, Michael (Lee) Williams and son, Matt and daughter, Natalie of Michigan; Robert Williams and daughters, Sholie and Shalie of Colorado; Phillip (Jodi) Williams and daughter Morgan of Midland, TX and one niece, Carrie Lea Williams of New Braunfels; cousins, Shirley and Marilyn Woltering of San Antonio.

Dear Ben,

It is so difficult to say goodbye to you because we feel you are still here with us. I know you were looking on in the Duddlesten Funeral Home on Sunday and Monday. You enjoyed seeing your friends, showing their respect and affection for you, especially since you looked so young and handsome again.

I know that when Sister Teresa and Sister Severin walked you home to All-Mighty God, that He was waiting for you and that you are now able to walk and feel free once again.

Your foreman, Bate and all your employees and their families were happy to see you, looking so special, all dressed-up with all the beautiful flowers. Perhaps they were remembering the hunting trips, water skiing and deep sea fishing trips you used to take them all on, especially Ben, Jr. and the slippery deck.

We too are remembering all the good and special times of our life together and how you struggled to get ahead for your family and then again with Parkinson Disease. We will always love you and hold you in our hearts and in our memories. Our love will be with you forever through the ages and into the future when we will all be together again in Heaven. Love, Dottie and all your loved ones

The Kirsch Family gives special thanks to the Willacy County EMS and their flight crew, the Valley Baptist Medical Center and all their doctors and nurses in the ER and ICU for their great effort on behalf of B.W. Kirsch and the continued care at Solana Hospital. Also, we would like to thank the Aurora Hospice House in Weslaco, TX for their excellent care by the nurses (from Odyssey Foundation) of B.W. Kirsch, and especially Sister Teresa at Aurora Hospital House who says her mission is to walk her ill patients “Home to God in Heaven” when they are ready.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Aurora Hospice House, P.O. Box 976, Weslaco, TX 78596, 956-973-9690.

Graveside services were held July 21, 2010 at the Garden of Memories in Kerrville, TX. Catholic Deacon Charles Dominguez gave the eulogy and Heather Mitchell sang “Amazing Grace, One Day At A Time, and In The Garden.”

Funeral services were under the direction of Duddlesten Funeral Home, Raymondville, TX.

You may sign the guestbook at http://legacy.com/valleystar/ obituaries.asp

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