Gustavo Ponce Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Gustavo Arredondo Ponce, 65, of Buda, passed away Thursday, March 31, 2016. Gustavo will be laid to rest at Fort Sam Houston National Veteran's Cemetery in San Antonio on Friday, April 22, 2016 at 1:15pm. A Memorial Serivce was held at 11:30am, Sunday, April 3, 2016 on the base of Camp Mabry in the Camp Mabry Chapel, 2200 West 35th Street, Austin, Texas. A reception will follow across the street at the Military Forces Museum Hall of Honor. As father, a brother, an uncle and a friend for life, Gustavo touched a lot of lives. Friends and family knew him as a jokester, a two stepping cowboy, a golfer and a soldier. Gustavo was born May 17, 1950 to Daniel Arredondo Rodrigues and Hortencia Ponce Jaramillo in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. At the young age of 16 he joined the Gary Job Corps to help his mother with one less mouth to feed. The skills and integrity learned there would lay the foundation for the success in his life. He joined the Army at the age of 17 and was sent overseas. After his time in the Army, he joined the National Guard then later worked with the National Guard as a civilian employee. He proudly served for 38 years until his retirement in 2008. He formed many long lasting friendships during his time in the guard. Friendships that would last for the duration of his life. He was honored to have touched so many lives. He truly made a difference during his time on Earth. He enjoyed life to the fullest and showed the true heart of a soldier by outlasting all the prognosis. One of the biggest joys came later in his life when he found out that he was going to be a grandfather to not one, but two grandchildren! Gustavo was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Enrique Ponce; nephew, Arturo Villanueva, Jr. Gustavo is survived by his children, Daniel Ponce of Austin, Gabrielle Mrksic and husband, Janko, of FL, Gustavo Ponce, Jr. of NY; one brother, Pablo Gomez and wife, Guadalupe, of Moneterey, Mexico; two sisters, Carmen Gomez of San Antonio, and Elizabeth Lugo and husband, Jose, of Austin; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff of Compassionate Care Hospice and Hospice Austin Christopher House for their compassion and care over the past few months, as well as to Melissa of Distinctive Life Cremations and Funerals. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to suggest donations in Gustavo's memory be made to Hospice Austin's Christopher House by visiting http://www.hospiceaustin.org/about-hospiceaustin/hospice-austins-christopher-house/