Eleanor Minnie Theis Pfluger 1922 - 2023 - BHS Class of 1940
Tom Estes
Eleanor Minnie Theis Pfluger, passed away on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, just 18 days before her 101st birthday. She was born September 16, 1922, to Simon and Ida (Moerbe) Theis in Bishop, Texas.
Eleanor was baptized on October 8, 1922, and confirmed on April 5, 1936, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in the Concordia community northeast of Bishop where she attended grade school. In 1940 she graduated from Bishop High School where she participated in choir, homemaking, theater arts, and playing on the girl’s baseball team.
On November 2, 1941, Eleanor and Marvin Pfluger were married while Marvin was home on leave from the National Guard as World War II was starting. Their son, Ronald was born in 1942 before Marvin’s deployment in April 1943. While Marvin was training in Massachusetts, Eleanor and Ronald stayed with Eleanor’s aunt and uncle in their New York City apartment above the delicatessen where Eleanor worked.
After Marvin returned home, they built a home in Bishop and were blessed with two more children, Kathleen (Kathy) and Arthur Charles. Eleanor and Marvin enjoyed 40 years happily married before his death in 1981. Eleanor was a stay-at-home mom whose life revolved around her family, friends, and service to God through her church activities. She loved baking, working in the yard, walking, sewing, traveling, reading, working puzzles, and playing the piano and organ. At church she served on many committees, welcomed new Lutheran school teachers, sang in the choir, and was a member of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) and attended many state and national conventions.
At the age of 70, Eleanor moved to a lakeside home in Granite Shoals, Texas. She was an active member of Genesis Lutheran Church at Buchanan Dam and worked once a week at a food bank. In 2013 she moved into Independent Living at Trinity Towers in Corpus Christi and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She renewed her friendship with a lifelong friend, Katherine Bolland and worked in a resale shop where she was given the name, Pinkie. She was living in the Brookdale Memory Care unit lovingly cared for by the staff and Kindred Hospice when God welcomed her into His heavenly home. She was always happy, contented, and had a mischievous smile.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; son, Rev. Ronald Pfluger; daughter-in-law, Donna Whitley Pfluger; grandson, Brady Neal Lowman; her 6 siblings: Alfred (Hilda) Theis, Robert Edward (Norene) Theis, Walter (Ernestine) Theis Sr., Lillian (Elmer) Theis, Anne (Chet) Ziola and Simon Theis, Jr.; brother-in-law, Wilburn (Peggy) Pfluger.
She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Sally Pfluger of Bella Vista, Arkansas; children, Kathy (Cliett) Lowman of Bishop, Texas; Arthur Pfluger of Georgetown, Texas; grandchildren, Jaret (Julia) Pfluger of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Hanni (Chris) Griffin of Rogers, Arkansas; Jay (Prissy) Lowman of Bishop, Texas; Ann Michelle (Art) Faccone of Round Rock, Texas; Adam (Tiffany) Pfluger of Hutto, Texas; great-grandchildren: Zackary, Nickolas, and Andrew (Destiny) Lowman of Bishop, Texas; Dean and Julianne Faccone of Round Rock, Texas; great-great-grandchildren, Brady James, Zophia, and Klaira Lowman of Bishop, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to express its sincere appreciation to the staff of Kindred Hospice and Brookdale Trinity Towers Memory Care unit for their loving care, especially to Anna Gonzalez with whom Mom formed a special bond, and to Pastor Alston Kirk for his many visits with our mom.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 7, 2023, from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 801 E. Main, Bishop, Texas. The funeral service will begin at 2:00 p.m. followed by burial at Concordia Cemetery, Bishop, Texas.
Pall bearers will be Jay Lowman, Zackary Lowman, Nickolas Lowman, Andrew Lowman, Allen Moerbe, and Tommy Smith
Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 801 E. Main, Bishop, Texas or to the charity of your choice.