William C. (Bill) Ward
William (Bill) C. Ward of Boerne died early in the morning on January 8, 2011 after a stroke. He was born in Waco, Texas in 1933. After attending Jefferson High School in San Antonio, he received his BS and MS in geology from the University of Texas at Austin and, after a nine year stint in the oil industry, returned to school to get his PhD at Rice University. He taught geology at the University of New Orleans for 25 years and did academic research in limestone and other sedimentary rocks of Mexico, Spain, Puerto Rico, Egypt, and the US Gulf Coast. In 1995 he retired from UNO as an Emeritus Professor of Geology and with his wife, Kathy, returned to their native Central Texas, where he was an enthusiastic and well-loved volunteer teaching Texas Hill Country geology for several Master Naturalist chapters, as well as for the Cibolo Nature Center, the Gorge Preservation Society (Canyon Lake Gorge), and other groups. Bill also was very active in the Native Plant Society of Texas, wrote a column on native plants for the Boerne Star, and was an avid birder. He and his wife, Kathy Agnew, enjoyed 53 years of marriage. Bill will be missed by his mother Louise (Momo) Ward, daughters Laura Good and Diane Sparkman, son Bruce Ward, sister Jeanne West and two brothers, Lee Allen Ward and Phil Ward, and five grandchildren, two son-in-laws, and a daughter-in-law. A memorial service will be held at Saint Helena Episcopal Church in Boerne on Tuesday, January 11 at 2 p.m., with reception to follow at Cibolo Nature Center in Boerne. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cibolo Nature Center Research Endowment Fund or to a charity of your choice. from The Boerne Star, posted January 8th
————————————————————————————————————————————-
Gary Trede
Colonel Gary A. Trede, USA (Ret), loving husband, son and father passed away on August 22, 2011. Gary was born on November 18, 1947 in Davenport Iowa to Frances and Colonel Ardo 
Trede. Gary served in the U.S. Navy from February 1968 to January 1972 earning the rank of Hospital Corpsman 3 (medical specialist) earning the Vietnam Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal. After his Active Navy service he continued in the Navy Reserve where he reached the rank of Petty Officer 1st Class while attending Cameron University in Lawton, OK where he earned a BA degree in Sociology and received a Regular Army Commission in the Infantry in May 1976. After service in the 82nd Airborne Division where he earned his Senior Master Parachutist wings with over 100 jumps, The Republic of Korea and the 95th Maneuver Training Command in Oklahoma City, his Army service took him to Fort Sam Houston, TX where he met and married his greatest love, Stephanie Hill. Gary and Stephanie were married at the Gift Chapel, Fort Sam Houston on August 16, 1986. During this period in his career he was ranked the #10 Triathlete in Texas by the Texas Triathlon Association. His Army career continued to flourish and during his year at Command and General Staff College he transferred to the Army Quartermaster Corps. Gary received his Masters of Science in Business Administration in 1992 from Central Michigan University. During his active duty service Stephanie and Gary became the parents of two sons, Ensign Zachary C. Trede (U.S. Navy) and Seaman 2nd Class Marshall W. Trede (U.S. Coast Guard). Highlights of his Army service include Company and Battalion Command, Commander of the 6th Support Center, Chief of Staff of the 19th TSC (Korea), Chief of Logistics (J4) – Joint Task Force Olympics for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Chief, Support Operations, 13th Support Command, Fort Hood, TX. He was a great mentor and caring Army leader who prided himself in always caring for his subordinates. His awards include the Legion of Merit (3rd Award), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (5th Award) and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. After his retirement from the Army in June 2002 Gary taught JROTC at Winston Churchill High School before becoming a Federal Civilian Employee at the Installation Management Command (West) Fort Sam Houston and the G4, Army North Fort Sam Houston. He retired from federal service in August 2008, after 39 years of total federal service. Gary volunteered in the church wherever the family was assigned and honored God through his selfless service to others. Gary’s interests were widespread and included Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader at all levels, Texas Master Naturalist (AAMN Class 23) and volunteer, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary where he served as the Public Affairs Officer, Docent at Mitchell Lake, hunting, boating and fishing and recent member of the San Antonio Chapter of the National Powerboat Association. Gary was devoted to his wife, sons, mother and his entire extended family. Colonel Trede is survived by his mother, Frances Trede, his wife Stephanie, sons Zachary and Marshall Trede, his parents-in-law Colonel (R) and Mrs. Bill Hill and numerous brothers and sisters-in-laws, nieces and nephews.
