Benno Vyvjala

Benno Vyvjala was born Sept. 18, 1924 to Rosalie (Chrastecky) and Ed Vyvjala in Smithville. He went to Smithville schools and graduated with the class of 1942. Benno worked for the M.K.T. Railroad until 1943. He served with the Air Force in World War II as a bombardier-navigator. Benno was married to childhood sweetheart Myrtis Marburger in 1947. He worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad 33 years in San Antonio and retired in 1979 and took up cattle ranching for 25 years on his wife’s inherited Anchor Ranch property. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rose and Ed Vyvjala; sister, Otilie Coleman; brother, Felix Vyvjala; sisters Jo Ann Carter and Della Mae Otahal; and wife of 64 years Myrtis Vyvjala. He is survived by daughter Nancy L. Calvert and husband Rev. George M. Calvert of San Diego, Calif.; grandson, Dr. Alexander D. Bray, his wife Dr. Nina L. Bray and great-grandson, Kieran Tasman Bray of New Plymouth, New Zealand; and granddaughter, Jill Christina Calvert of Palm Desert, Calif. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. James Episcopal Church Endowment Fund, 156 N. Monroe St., La Grange, TX 78945 Visitation will be Friday, Feb. 20, 2015 from 5-6 p.m. at Marrs-Jones Funeral Home in Smithville. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. on Feb. 21, 2015 at St. James Episcopal Church in La Grange with interment following at Oak Hill Cemetery in Smithville. Marrs-Jones Funeral Home in Smithville was in charge of arrangements.