On May 6th, our dear sweet dad, Vernon Paul Eschenfelder Jr. went to be with our Father in heaven and the love of his life, Pauline Falsone Eschenfelder. He passed peacefully at our home, surrounded by his loving children and grandchildren. Vernon was born on November 21, 1931, in Houston, Texas to Vernon and Elizabeth Eschenfelder.
A native Houstonian, Vernon attended Jefferson Davis High School and earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees at the University of Houston. He began his military career in the U.S. Army as a medic stationed in Okinawa, Japan. After active duty, he continued his military service in the Army Reserves and retired after 30 years at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In July of 1960, Vernon married his beloved, Pauline Falsone and moved to Stafford Texas. The couple were blessed with four children, Joseph, Verna, Kevin and Melissa.
Vernon started his career in the early 1960’s as the Director of Athletic Training for the Houston Independent School District. He continued as Athletic Trainer and Professor of Kinesiology at Houston Baptist University. He completed his sports medicine career at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston where he worked to establish the first sports medicine program in the Texas Medical Center. One of his proudest accomplishments was serving as the U.S.A. Olympic team trainer for the 1975 Pan American Games in Mexico City. He was honored with a Visiting Professorship at the University of Beijing in China for their developing sports medicine programs in the 1980s.
Upon leaving his career in sports medicine, Vernon served as the Director of Health and Safety for the city of Stafford. He loved his community in Stafford and volunteered as a Fireman for over 50 years and was named Fire Marshall for the city of Stafford. In addition, he served on the inaugural Stafford MSD school board. Whether it be his faith, family, career or community Vernon was always willing to lend a hand to help those in need.
Vernon is preceded in death by his parents, Vernon P. Eschenfelder Sr. and Elizabeth Eschenfelder, wife Pauline Eschenfelder and son Joseph Eschenfelder.
He is survived by his 3 children, Verna Eschenfelder, Kevin Eschenfelder and wife Jeanne, Melissa Salton and husband Trevor. Grandchildren, Gabby Salton, Gabby’s fiancée Richard, Nicole Eschenfelder Shepard and husband Ben, Gavin Salton, Jake Eschenfelder, and Emery Salton; Cousins, Mary and Jerry Paquette, Paul and Ann Eschenfelder, Barbara and Joe Ford, brother in-law Joe Falsone and his wife Bessie and many nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held on Monday, May 15 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the chapel at Earthman Southwest Funeral Home, 12555 South Kirkwood Road in Stafford, with the Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, May 16 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1510 5th Street in Missouri City.
The interment will follow, via funeral procession, to Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery in Houston.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with his family at www.earthmansouthwest.com.

February 17, 2023, 11:18 am EST

Sandra Lee Wallsmith Sandra Wallsmith, 78, peacefully passed on Friday January 20th, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. Sandra was born in Athens, TX on November 7th,1944 to Arlou and James Smith. Sandra will be remember for many accomplishments. Sandra graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1963. She went on to attend College at the University of Houston were she studied and majored in Pharmacy. She graduated with a Bachelors in Pharmacy and later obtained a Masters in Physiology to become an LPC. After college she committed to a 50 year career as a Pharmacist helping thousands of people. During this time she developed an overwhelming love for children and became an advocate for an Organization know as CASA. She also worked closely with Battered women and children. Those left to cherish her memories include her sister Carol Garib, daughter Anna Saylor, son Matthew Wallsmith, grandson Aubrey Saylor, and all of the friends she acquired throughout her life.

Dr. Spencer V. Moore

Waco Tribune-Herald

February 17, 2023, 11:20 am EST

Feb. 28, 1949 – Feb. 6, 2023

Dr. Spencer Vernon Moore, 73, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for eternity Monday, February 6, 2023.

Spencer was born February 28, 1949, to Billie Bob and Juanita Moore in Hillsboro, TX. He graduated from Hillsboro High School (1967), played golf for Hill Junior College (1967-69), and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree (1971) and a Doctorate in Optometry (1973) from the University of Houston Optometry School.

He married Jeanie Anderson in August 1971.

In the eighth grade, Spencer knew that God wanted him to be an optometrist. He even applied to U of H Optometry School then to make sure that he took all of the right classes in high school and at Hill Junior College. They said no one that young had ever applied. He practiced for 40 years in Waco, before retiring in 2013. He loved helping people see more clearly and making them smile.

Spencer had been involved in photography since he was in optometry school (it all fit together – lenses, lighting, making the objects sharp and in focus). When he retired, he and Jeanie began traveling to take pictures of nature and wildlife. He loved seeing the world that God created and capturing it in photos that he could share with others.

He also began photographing for Baylor athletics. His real love was football, but he photographed other sports as well. It was his dream job.

Spencer was preceded in death by his parents, Billie Bob & Juanita Moore; and his sister, Vanessa Moore Jander.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Jeanie Moore; son, Scot and wife, Leslie Moore; daughter, Melody and husband, Paul Day; and grandchildren, Jonathan, Madeline, Caleb, Caroline, Levi and Daniel Day.

Judge Fortunato “Pete” Benavides, age 76, of Austin, Texas, passed away on Friday, May 5, 2023. He is survived by his wife Evelyn (Eveie) Benavides; daughter Amanda Laura Carter and her husband Benjamin, and grandsons Noah and Milo Carter; daughter Adelaide Pilar Benavides; brothers Tony X. Solis, Adán Benavides Jr., Gabriel Benavides and wife Letty; sister Liza Garza and husband Sam; sister-in-law Cathy Solis (wife of Ray); and cousin Dina G. Hinojosa and husband Roy Lee; and many appreciated nieces and nephews. Pete was preceded in death by his infant son Ramon Joseph Benavides, mother Pilar C. Benavides, father Adán Benavides, and uncle and “Dad” Ramón G. Cavazos; sister Mary Lou Lara and husband Pete; and brothers John Lee Solis and wife Mary; Joe M. Solis and wife Minerva; Ray E. Solis; sister-in-law Edith Pearl Solis (wife of Tony); aunts Eva B. Gorena and husband Humberto, and Inés B. Leal and husband Pete; cousins Minerva Gorena and Irma Leal Gutierrez and husband Eugenio.
Pete was born on February 3, 1947, in Mission, Texas, in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, but grew up in neighboring McAllen. On his paternal side, he was a direct descendant of Captain Francisco Benavides, born in the Canary Islands, and on the maternal side, he was a direct descendant of Captain Juan Cavazos del Campo, who like Benavides, was in the second wave of colonizers of Monterrey and Cerralvo, Nuevo León, arriving in the 1620s. Later descendants of Juan Cavazos would be among the founders of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, in the 1740s. Members of these latter families would demarcate the grazing and farmlands of southern Texas along the margins of the Rio Grande.
Pete excelled in several sports, especially basketball. He was gregarious and greatly admired. His superb memory was already evident and became a lifelong trait extending to lyrics in all genres of music and whose renditions were highly entertaining. After graduation from McAllen Senior High School in 1965, he received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Houston in 1968 and his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center in 1972.
The following summary of Pete’s judicial service is taken liberally from the dedicatory page of “The 2022 Fifth Circuit Judicial Conference” program written by Priscilla Richman, Chief Judge of the Fifth Circuit Court. By then, Pete had attained the position of Senior United States Circuit Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Judge Benavides began his career as a litigator in private practice in McAllen, but only five years after receiving his law degree, he began his judicial career with his appointment as a judge on a County Court at Law for Hidalgo County, Texas. He served on that bench for two years and then returned to private practice for two years. Pete was elected judge of the Hidalgo County 92nd District Court in 1981, and served for three years until 1984, when Texas Governor Mark White appointed him as a Justice on the Thirteenth Court of Appeals of Texas, which was based in Corpus Christi. Then Justice Benavides was elected at the next general election to retain that position and served seven years, until 1991, when Governor Ann Richards appointed him to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Texas’s court of last resort for criminal matters.
Tom Phillips, who was then the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, selected Pete to serve by special appointment to numerous Texas state courts. Pete briefly returned to private practice as a partner in the McAllen law firm of Atlas & Hall from 1993 to 1994, until he was appointed as a Judge on the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals by President Bill Clinton in 1994. In addition to his judicial service, Judge Benavides was a member of the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission from 1983 to 1989. He established a center for troubled teens, the Ramiro H. Guerra Youth Village, a residential facility in Weslaco for male juvenile offenders. His work with the center led President Bill Clinton to name Pete one of 53 “Faces of Hope” in 1993.
In 1994, when President Clinton nominated Judge Benavides to serve on the Fifth Circuit, President Clinton’s office issued a statement, noting that Judge Benavides “has been praised by both prosecutors and defense attorneys for his work in Texas” and “is often applauded for his compassion and fair-mindedness.” During the nomination process, a Senator asked Judge Benavides what in his background made him sensitive to those less fortunate. Judge Benavides responded: “Well, we can start probably with my father, who was born in Mexico and came to this country to work and fought in World War II and was wounded. It makes it very difficult to forget your roots when you are still so close to the ground.”
In 2022, Chief Judge Priscilla Richman of the Fifth Circuit Court noted that “Judge Benavides has recounted rich, sometimes poignant, often humorous, personal and professional experiences, as anyone who has spent even a short time conversing with him can attest, including judges, countless law clerks from his and other judges’ chambers, and other court personnel. It is a privilege to know him. We have all benefitted greatly from his experiences and perspectives and his positive, though incisive, outlook.”
Judge Benavides was an active Fifth Circuit judge for eighteen years. During that time, he served numerous terms as a member of the Judicial Council of the Fifth Circuit. He has also served as a member on Committees of the United States Judicial Conference, including the Committee on International Judicial Relations and the Committee on the Administration of the Bankruptcy System.
In 2012, Judge Benavides assumed senior status. In the opinion of Chief Judge Richman, Pete “continued his excellent work for the court and also shared his wisdom and acumen with the Ninth and Eleventh Circuits, sitting as a visiting judge several times over the years. During his twenty-five years on the Fifth Circuit, Judge Benavides authored more than 2000 opinions. During his tenure as a state judge, Judge Benavides authored over 500 opinions. Judge Benavides was known for his cogent opinions in which he faithfully applied precedent and for his ability to make the most complex case understandable.”
Graveside services and interment will be Friday, May 19, 2023, at 11:00 A.M. at the Texas State Cemetery, 909 Navasota St., Austin, Texas. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Weed Corley Fish Funeral Homes, Austin, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations in Pete’s name to a charity of your choice.

Published by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home North – Austin on May 9, 2023.

Elizabeth Tudor
10/01/1955 – 01/22/2023
Elizabeth “Beth” Jean Tudor came to rest during the evening of Sunday, January 22, 2023, after a long illness. She was surrounded by the love of friends and family during the final weeks of her life journey.
Beth was born on October 1, 1955 in Bloomington, Indiana, the only child of Daniel Strain Tudor and Janet Elaine Tudor, née Weiderberg. Beth’s family moved around the country frequently for her father’s work as a petroleum geologist. She came to her love of nature early in life: family trips frequently included spontaneous roadside stops to examine interesting rocks and formations. Her curiosity about the world also turned to how it could be if things were different: she was an avid science fiction reader.
Elizabeth attended the University of Houston, California State University, and Rice University, from which she earned a PhD in Anthropology in 1994. Though her early primatology studies took her to Indonesia, she completed her dissertation on the AIDS Foundation Houston, examining the language strategies staff and patients used to describe those living with HIV. She taught at various universities over the years including UT School of Public Health, Texas A&M Galveston, University of Houston Clear Lake, Houston Community College, North Harris County College, and University of Puget Sound. A life-long learner, she returned to the University of Houston to complete her MBA in 2002.
After completing her doctoral work, she would continue to reside in Houston. Beth served as a research consultant for Xerox Corporation and for many years ran her own business – Tudor Indexing. She was the business manager for the Houston Buyers Club, and her love of reading fueled her time as a book buyer for Lone Star Books and Waldenbooks.
Beyond work, Beth loved to visit state and national parks, especially her beloved Big Bend in Texas. Beth also cared deeply about social issues, particularly those affecting women and the LGBTQ+ community. She was a strong supporter of the Houston Area Women’s Center and Planned Parenthood. She was equally passionate in her love of dogs – dachshunds to be exact – whether her own or those she fostered as a volunteer and supporter for Dachshund Rescue of Houston.
In her own words, Beth appreciated “the simple joys in life: the butterflies, birds, tree frogs, toads, squirrels and many other creatures in my garden; caring for my dachshunds and foster dogs; checking out the modern art at local museums and galleries; cooking for my friends…”
She is survived by extended family from Indiana, California, and Texas, a circle of loving friends, and her fur babies, Maddie and Sammy. We know she is reunited with her parents and her loyal doxies over the years including Peanut, Oscar, Felix, Cooper, and Freckles. Beth’s laughter, her love for friends and family and her passion for doxies are deeply missed.

Sister Jan Dunn, RSCJ
10/20/1946 – 03/27/2023
Religious of the Sacred Heart, Jan Dunn died on March 27, 2023, in Houston, Texas. She was 76 years old and a member of the Society of the Sacred Heart for 54 years. Jan was born on October 20, 1946, in Houston, Texas, to Edward A. Dunn and Jane Hebert Dunn. She entered the Society of the Sacred Heart on July 24, 1969, at Kenwood. She pronounced her first vows at Villa Duchesne in St. Louis, Missouri in 1972 and made her final profession on May 31, 1979, in Rome, Italy.
Sister Dunn graduated with honors from Maryville College with a B.A. in History in 1968. She earned an M.A. in English from St. Louis University in 1977 and a M.Ed. in Administration from the University of Houston in 1982. She held certificates as an administrator in Louisiana and Nebraska. She served on the boards of Maryville University in St. Louis, Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, Maryland, and Old St. Ferdinand Shrine in Florissant, Missouri. She authored books and articles published by the Society of the Sacred Heart. Among the titles were the beloved children’s book, Under the Pear Tree, written in 1996, and Life at Sacred Heart in 1986. She also wrote Faithful Friend, a biography of Ursula McAghon, RSCJ, in 2014, and Catherine Collins: Innovator with Heart and Vision, in 2021.
Sister Dunn’s early years in the Society (1969-1974) were devoted to teaching at Villa Duchesne in St. Louis and Grand Coteau, Louisiana. Beginning in 1974, she moved to Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart in Houston, Texas, where she taught and served as dean of students. Following Duchesne, Sister Dunn was dean of students at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau (1980-1982) and dean of students at the Academy of the Sacred Heart (The Rosary) in New Orleans from 1982-1989.
From 1989 until 1995, Sister Dunn was head of school at the Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart in Omaha, Nebraska. Under her leadership, a case statement was developed to provide trustees, administration, faculty, alumnae, friends and students with a statement of all aspects of Duchesne’s mission. A capital campaign was launched to help fulfill objectives in the case statement leaving the school with a firm foundation to move into the 21st century. Sister Dunn later served as interim director of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools (1995-1996). She oversaw the creation of a video describing the values of Sacred Heart education as lived within the schools of the Network.
Sister Dunn returned to Duchesne Academy in Houston in 1996 and named headmistress of the school, a role she held until 2012. She was also area director in Houston for three years while she was headmistress at Duchesne.
In a 2011 letter to the school community, the chair of the board of trustees recognized Sister Dunn’s leadership. “Her contributions resulted in the excellent reputation that Duchesne Academy enjoyed in Houston and within the Network of Sacred Heart Schools throughout the United States.” Following a one-year sabbatical in 2012, Sister Dunn became the executive director of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools in 2013. She taught formation to mission at Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York City from 2015-2016 and the Academy of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans (The Rosary) where she taught religion, from 2017-2022.
Sister Dunn was an active member of the Associates Leadership Team in the USC Province. She was the coordinator of the Virtual Associates group, and the group contact for Associates in New Orleans and New York.
In December 2022, Sister Dunn moved to Houston and joined the Duchesne Houston Community where she was to be engaged in education and retreat work. Coming back to her Texas roots, being close to friends and her only sister Jenny was a gift to her. On March 27, 2023, Sister Dunn suffered a fatal medical attack, dying suddenly. Her death was a shock to her community and to the Society of the Sacred Heart. She was loved by so many students, parents and friends and will be dearly missed.
Sister Dunn made a difference in the lives of the students and parents she came to know and love over the years. They hold memories of an educator and friend who lived out the values of Sacred Heart education. A student she taught at Grand Coteau, now an RSCJ, remembers that Jan was one of the best English teachers she ever had. “She was demanding and thorough; making an ‘A’ [from her] on a paper was a real accomplishment. I will always remember when I finally figured out what she was looking for in my work. Though Jan spent only one year at Grand Coteau while I was a student, she was a beloved teacher. It was a major loss when we were told she was moving after having been with us only one year!”
Sister Dunn is survived by her sister, Jenny Blanc and her husband, Mike, of Houston, Texas; niece, Paige and nephew, Evan; six grandnieces and nephews; and her sisters in the Society of the Sacred Heart.