Gertrude Barbara Wotipka Christian

Gertrude Barbara Wotipka Christian, 102, died Jan. 18, 2014. Gertrude was born in Flatonia on Dec. 7, 1911, to Roman

Frank and Mathilda Bittner Wotipka. She graduated from Flatonia High School and from Draughn’s Business College in-

San Antonio. She married William Alfred (Bill) Christian on Jan. 30, 1936, in San Antonio, where they lived until moving to

Corpus Christi in 1942. In 1978, she and Bill retired to San Antonio, where she continued to live until moving to Schulenburg in 1999. In February of 2008, she moved to Flatonia, and then to Austin in April of 2009. She remained there

until returning to Schulenburg in December of 2011. Gertrude was a member of the Roman Catholic Church and a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court 246. She is survived by two daughters, Barbara Sue Christian

Chumney of San Antonio, and Mildred Ann Christian Elam of Flatonia; five grandchildren:  India Chumney Hancock and

husband Lawrence Bradley Hancock, of Seabrook; William Christian Chumney and wife Amy Sue Lueders Chumney, of

Port St. Lucie, Fla.; David Christian Elam and wife Lisa Lindsey Elam, of Winston-Salem, N.C.; Theresa Christine Elam Piersall and husband Jay Gary Piersall of Austin; and Elizabeth Maureen Elam of Austin; ten great-grandchildren:

Katherine Adair, Laurence Bradley, Jr., Robert Earl, and Elizabeth DaCamera Hancock; Logan, Christian Cade, and India Katherine Chumney; Richard William, Sarah Elizabeth, and David Elliott Piersall; one nephew, William Edward Christilles and wife Joy Alsbury Christilles, of San Antonio; plus great and great-great nieces and nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Alfred, son-in-law, Earl Hobbs Chumney, Jr., and grandchildren Annette and Daniel Elam. The funeral and internment was held Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014 at Our Lady of Grace Catholic

Church and Sunset Memorial Park in San Antonio. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate any memorial donations be made to Raphael’s Refuge, 2715 West US Hwy. 90, Flatonia, Texas 78941, The Gladney Home, 6300 John Ryan Drive, Forth Worth, Texas 76132, or a charity of your choice.