Bargas

Joe G. Bargas, Sr. 92, of Holman, Texas, a man who seldom rested, is now at rest in his heavenly home. He was called home Sunday morning, Oct. 27, 2019 at the age of 92 from Monument Hill Nursing Center where he had been a short-term resident.

Joe was born on Jan. 3, 1927 in Muldoon, Texas to the late Cenobio and Leocadia Bargas. The eldest of 11 children, Joe attended Pin Oak School near Muldoon, Texas. He entered the U.S. Army in April 1945 and was sent overseas to the Pacific Campaign on October 30, 1945 where he was part of the First Squadron 5th Calvary Division. After being honorably discharged in December 1946, he returned to Fayette County to farm with his father in the Middle Creek community.

On Aug. 26, 1950, Joe was united in marriage to Andrea Delgado (the sweetest woman) in Ammannsville, Texas where they lived for seven years. In 1957, they purchased a farm in Holman where they raised their eight children and lived the rest of their lives. Sadly, Joe’s wife of 64 years lost her battle with Alzheimer’s on Aug. 11, 2014.

In addition to farming and ranching, Joe was a dedicated community member who loved people. He served on the La Grange School Board for 21 years. A past chairman of the Fayette County Round Up Club, he served on the board of the Fayette County Soil & Water Conservation District, as well as the Holman local of the Fayette County Farm Bureau. Joe was a charter member of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Posse. A member and chairman of the Fayette County Cattlemen’s Association, on behalf of the Texas Farm Bureau, Joe had the honor of placing a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, D.C., in 1999.

From 1979 until his retirement in 1995, Joe was employed by the Lower Colorado River Authority. After his retirement, Joe served as bailiff at the Fayette County Courthouse for two years. Before transferring their membership to St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Weimar, Joe and Andrea were active with St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church at Holman. Joe was instrumental in procuring and planting the many trees surrounding the church and enjoyed watching them grow over the years.

Joe was a member of the Weimar Lions Club. In the Knights of Columbus, Joe was a Third Degree, Fourth Degree, and Grand Knight. In 2015, he served as honorary chairman of the first Fayette County Walk to End Alzheimer’s, which honored the memory of his late wife, Andrea.

At the 17th annual convention of the Independent Cattlemen’s Association in San Antonio in 1991, he was honored for serving on the President’s Council. In 1994-95, he received a Certificate of Recognition when he was listed on the Who’s Who Among Hispanic Americans. The Independent Cattlemen’s Association presented him with an award for his Valuable Contribution, Enduring Commitment and Unmatched Enthusiasm in 1996 and he was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the Membership Recruitment Campaign in 1999.

Joe received a Distinguished Service plaque from the La Grange FFA in the 1990s. The Evening Lions Club of La Grange recognized him for Outstanding and Exceptional Service in the 1980s and Lions Club International recognized his 25 years of membership by inducting him into the Quarter Century Club in 1992. The Knights of Columbus Weimar Council No. 2153 presented him with a Certificate of Merit in 2002 in appreciation of his exceptional service. Joe received a Certification of Appreciation for his contributions to the Lower Colorado River Authority’s Volunteers at Work in 1991. In 1996, he was recognized by the La Grange School Board as a Dedicated Leader in Public Education. He also was honored for his dedicated service with a plaque upon his retirement from serving on the board the same year.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Andrea, an infant son, grandson Matthew Bargas, his parents and two siblings.

He is survived by daughter Virginia Bargas of Temple; daughter and son-in-law Martha and Mike Powell of Holman; daughter and son-in-law Delfina and Jerry Rohde of La Grange; daughter Juanita Bargas of Austin; daughter and son-inlaw Anita and Stephen Mayer of La Grange; son and daughterin-law Louis and Vicky Bargas of La Grange; son Joe Bargas, Jr., of San Antonio; and son and daughter-in-law David and Virginia Bargas, of Hallettsville. Joe is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, two brothers, six sisters, many friends and relatives, and his loving nurse Denise Rhoden of Weimar.