Ernesto Martinez

Ernesto Martinez was born on September 11, 1944 in Uvalde, Texas to Antonio and Carmen De La Torre Martinez. Ernesto graduated from UHS in 1964. He married Antonia Gallardo on June 13, 1970. They had two children, a son, Ernesto Gallardo Martinez and a daughter, Erika Gallardo Martinez.

Ernesto received an Associate of Arts Degree from SWTJC in 1970, a bachelors Degree in Education from SWTSU in San Marcos, TX in 1972 and a Masters Degree in Counseling and Guidance from SWTST in 1977. Post-Graduate studies were done at SWTSU in 1995. Ernesto always said he owed his college education to his wife who always encouraged and supported him throughout his college years.

Ernestos career included working for UCISD as a Spanish teacher for six years at Uvalde Junior High until 1978, as a Counselor for six years at Southwest Texas Junior College until 1984. He also worked for the La Pryor ISD as a Bi-LingualESL Director and for Dilley ISD as a Counselor. Ernesto also worked at the Briscoe unit in Dilley as a VocationalAcademic Counselor Supervisor with the Windham School System which provides academic and vocational instruction to Texas prison inmates.

He held memberships in the South Texas Counseling Association. Southwest Texas Counseling Association, the Texas Vocational Guidance Association, the Texas Counseling Association, Texas Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, Texas Career Guidance Association, The Texas Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development and a life member of Sigma Delta Pi.

After his retirement as a teacher and counselor from the public school system, he worked for the Geo Group Detention Center in Pearsall, Texas and at the Kinney County Detention Center in Brackettville, Texas as a security guard. Ernesto was a dedicated school teacher and counselor and always tried to motivate his students to better themselves. When working as a counselor at the prison in Dilley, he tried to motivate the inmates to turn their life around and was able to encourage some of them to get an education which the prison system provided for them.

Ernesto was predeceased by his father, Antonio Martinez and great aunt, Concha T. Vasquez. He is survived by his wife, Antonia Toni Gallardo Martinez; his beloved children, a son; Ernesto Gallardo Martinez of San Antonio and a daughter, Erika Burt and son-in-law Justin Burt and two precious grandchildren, Bernadette Genevieve Burt and Benedict Joseph Burt of Yardley, Penn.

Ernesto is also survived by his mother, Carmen Martinez of Pflugerville, a brother, Tony Martinez and wife, Irma Martinez of San Antonio; a sister, Julie Ballesteros and husband, Joe Ballesteros of Pflugerville. He is also survived by two nieces, Nilda Fielding of San Antonio and Jennifer Esparza of Sonora and two nephews, Antonio Tito Martinez of San Antonio and John Esparza of San Angelo and several great nephews and great niece.

A rosary will be held on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 10:00AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with funeral mass immediately following the rosary. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Antonio L. Hernandez; Joe Diaz; Rene Gallardo; Johnny Munoz; Frank Alegria; and Joe Ballesteros.

There will be no viewing or visitation but a guest book will be available at Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary.

Service

Funeral

Sacred Heart Catholic Church
408 Ft. Clark Rd.
Uvalde, TX  78801
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
11:00 AM

Rosary

Sacred Heart Catholic Church
408 Ft. Clark Rd.
Uvalde, TX  78810
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
10:00 AM

Cemetery

Hillcrest Cemetery
Hwy. 90 West
Uvalde, TX  78801