Obdulia Lara Bendele

Lifelong educator Obdulia Lara Bendele passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 1, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas at the age of 87.  Obdulia was lovingly known by many as Aunt Lula and Mimi.

Obdulia was born on November 26, 1935 to Maria de Jesus Fernandez and Jose Juan Lara in Crystal City, Texas.  Sadly, her father passed away when she was 1 years old but she has fond memories of being raised by her step-father Pedro Telles.  After repeating 1^st grade at La Primera because she spoke Spanish, Obdulia graduated as class Historian from Crystal City High School in 1955.  Obdulia was determined to pursue her education and worked at the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company and Crystal Florist to save money to pay her way through college and assist her family financially.  She began her college education at Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde, graduating in 1958 and continued at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education, majoring in Mathematics in 1960.  As part of her teacher training program, Obdulia took a teaching job in the last one-room schoolhouse located in Juno, Texas.  While in Juno, she met and married Eloyed Bendele.  Education was extremely important to “Lula” who later went on to earn her Master in Science in Chemistry from Texas A & I – Kingsville in 1972.

Obdulia taught many students across southwest Texas in multiple educational settings and across many grade levels beginning in August 1959.  She taught at Crystal City ISD, Carrizo Springs CISD, and Uvalde CISD.  An educator at heart, she lovingly remembered many of the students she taught over her 47 school years in Texas Public Education.  After retiring from public education, Obdulia continued helping children by teaching at Sacred Heart Catholic School and substituting for UCISD.  Through Southwest Texas Junior College, she taught at the Department of Criminal Justice Education system in Hondo, Texas and Zavala County and served as the Director of Casa Del Sol Senior Daycare. 

In 1968, Ms. Bendele was inducted into Delta Kappa Gamma in Crystal City chapter.  She was very proud of her 50-year membership in DKG where she served in several officer positions, including President.  She was a member of the Catholic Woman’s’ Club, serving as a church volunteer at Sacred Heart Church, including “teaching” CCD classes and sponsored 4-H and FFA activities.  She was one of the first volunteers for Relay for Life in Uvalde.

Obdulia loved sewing, cooking, reading and was known for making bows for special occasions.  She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.  She was much loved by her many nieces, nephews AND grandnieces and grandnephews.  She was thrilled to share her many recipes with them, helping them with math and chemistry problems, and sharing the books she read.  She always loved traveling to attend as many of their extracurricular activities as she could.  She was the aunt who remembered everyone’s birthday and made sure to call them with a birthday wish and a serenade. 

Obdulia is survived by her four sons, James (Cristal) of Carrizo Springs, Vernon (Romelia) of Ozona, Marvin (Melanie) of Uvalde and John of Willernie, Minnesota and daughter, Kathryn Diane Bendele Perez (Eric) of San Antonio and her sister, Yolanda Ibarra Telles.  She is also survived by her grandchildren, who were the joy of her life, Brodi J. Sims (Payton), Jase Michael Shelton, Casey Michael Smith, Tanner Smith, Adrienne Joyce Felder (Eric), Jordan Vela De Hoyos, Griffin James Witherspoon, Hannah Monet Witherspoon, John Heston Kole Bendele (Mariah), Kloe Lara Enellie Martinez, Truett Makai Bendele, Ezra Zain Bendele; great-grandchildren, Mollie Felder, Oliver Felder, Gracie Felder, Harper Campbell Smith, Kendall Faith Smith, Rawlee Ann Smith, Avery Olivia Bendele, Addison Christine Bendele, and Wylee J. Sims.

Obdulia was preceded in death by her parents and her beautiful daughter, Barbara Ann Witherspoon, son-in-law Daniel Witherspoon, daughter-in-law Sandra K. Bendele and by her siblings, Olivia Lara Acosta, Elvira Lara Galvan (brother-in-law Guillermo Galvan), Mary Lara Jimenez, brother Jose Juan Lara (sister-in-law Aurelia Duran Lara) and nephew, Robert William Galvan.

Visitors will be received on Thursday, June 8 from 12 noon to 9:00 p.m. at Rushing -Estes-Knowles Mortuary in Uvalde, Texas with a rosary at 7:00 p.m.  A funeral mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 408 Fort Clark Road, Uvalde, Texas at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, June 9, followed by a graveside service at the Benito Juarez Cemetery in Crystal City at 5:00 p.m.