Dates
Lydia Galan Menchaca, 86, left this world for Heaven on the morning on April 28, 2015, surrounded by family at her home in Christoval, Texas.
Lydia was born to Antonio and Lena Galan on May 11, 1928 in a small house under the shade of a live oak tree east of the South Concho River in Christoval. Her life was a demonstration of faith and faithfulness.
She married Antonio Menchaca at the age of 17 and together they raised their family of four children in Christoval, which was her life's proudest accomplishment.
Lydia had a simple yet profound faith. She made sure her children were involved in church on Sundays and it was her faith that inspired her husband Tony to give his life to Jesus. Lydia faithfully attended the Christoval First Baptist Church for sixty-two years.
While her family was young, Lydia loved having picnics and Easter egg hunts at the park, watching her kids play sports, and playing key roles in the PTA and Mother's Club. Her children remember that she could always make something wonderful out of the little they had, and that friends were always welcome at the table. When Tony fell ill with Alzheimer's, she cared for him for nearly a decade until he left this world.
Lydia loved her garden and knew how to encourage her plants to bloom beautifully. She enjoyed bowling, cheering for the Cowboys, walking or drinking coffee with her friends, and hosting family gatherings at her house. Her family loved her homemade tortillas, sweet tea, enchiladas, beans, salsa, pineapple-mandarin cake, and oatmeal raisin cookies.
Lydia was thankful for her many adventures, including, boating on the lake with her sister Laura, travelling to New York and California to visit grandchildren, and telling her story on KCRN radio. She loved to experience life and was always ready to have "just a little taste" of whatever food was being served.
When she suffered, she forgave; bitterness had no place in her life. She had friends everywhere she went and cared deeply for her loved ones.
Lydia was preceded in death by her husband Tony, her siblings Raul Galan, Natividad Wrey, Laura Jones, Eudelia Guerrero, and her daughter-in-law Suzette Menchaca.
Lydia leaves the legacy of her faithfulness and devotion to God to her surviving family members, including her children Rudy (Cathy) Menchaca of San Angelo, Bobby Menchaca of McAllen, Ricky Menchaca of San Angelo, and Rachel (Bob) Beaver of San Angelo; her grandchildren, Marci Menchaca of San Angelo, Marc Menchaca of New York City, Valerie (JD) Wilson of Noblesville, IN, Joe Preston Menchaca of Norfolk, VA, Amy Beth Beaver of Kingsburg, CA and Benjamin (Mary) Beaver of San Angelo, six precious great-grandchildren, and her siblings, who have been her most wonderful friends and companions, Marie (Jerry) Barnes of Christoval, and Raymond Galan of San Angelo, and many cherished nieces and nephews.
The family would like to offer a heart-felt thanks to Hospice of San Angelo and Dr. Raymond Untalan for providing such exceptional care during Lydia's last years and days.
A visitation for the family will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at Johnson's Funeral Home on Friday, May 1 and a memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 2, at Christoval First Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to House of Faith (321 Montecito San Angelo, Texas, 76903) or Christoval First Baptist Church (P.O. Box 241 Christoval, Texas, 76935).