Willa Ondras

Willa Mae Ondras, 74, departed this world June 16, passing away peacefully in her sleep that evening. Rosary and visitation will take place Monday, June 20,2016 at Baker Funeral Home in West Columbia from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm. Services will take place Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at 11 am at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Brazoria, with burial to follow in Cedar Lawn Haven of Rest Cemetery in West Columbia.
Born in Navasota, Texas on Sept. 25, 1941, to Benjamin Hock Sr. and Anna Marie (Mary) Hock of Old Ocean, the former Willa Mae Hock attended schools in Sweeny and graduated from Sweeny High School in 1960. She was working in Sweeny when she met Eugene Harvey Ondras of Brazoria. In August 1960, when she was 18, the couple married. Their first son, Michael Joseph, was born in 1961, and their second son, Terry Wayne, was born in 1965, both in Wharton. She attended Wharton County Junior College and the University of Houston while raising two sons. After they moved to Huntsville in the late 1960's, a daughter, Gwendolyn Marie, was born in 1969 in Trinity.
Willa Mae and her children returned to Old Ocean in the 1970's. While employed as a security guard at Phillips 66 in Old Ocean, she caught the eye of Edward Bennett, a retired truck driver from Damon by way of Indiana, who became her devoted companion . They enjoyed many happy years together until his death in 1993. After her children were grown, she cared for her parents and, after her father died in 1990, she moved with her mother to West Columbia. Her mother died in 2002. Having worked for many years to support her family, she continued her career as the manager of Newman's in West Columbia and later at Quizno's in Lake Jackson, where she was employed until she suffered a stroke.
Willa Mae set a positive example as a devoted mother and grandmother who worked diligently to provide for her family. Beyond her own children and grandchildren, she came to be known affectionately as "Memaw", "MaeMae", and "Mimi" to the children who were under her mother's and daughter's care in their home child care business.
Willa Mae was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Brazoria.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her boyfriend, Edward Bennett; her brother in law, Donald Cook; her nephew, Donald Hock; and her niece, Christina Cook. Survivors include her sons, Michael Ondras and Terry Ondras, both of West Columbia, her daughter, Gwendolyn Singletary and husband, Charles Singletary of West Columbia; four grandchildren, Sarah Ondras of West Columbia, Colby Singletary and wife, Lesley of Lake Jackson, Garret Singletary of West Columbia, and Holly Singletary and Phillip Hanna of West Columbia; two great grandchildren, Mckenna Singletary of West Columbia and Finn Hanna, due in July; her brother, Benny Hock and wife, Mozel of Carthage; her sister, Mary Jane Cook of Brazoria; her former sister in law, Floy Smith and husband, Ron Smith of West Columbia; a nephew, Marcus Cook and husband, Gray Townsend of San Francisco, Calif; a niece and goddaughter, Vickie Blackstock and husband, Charlie Blackstock of Sweeny; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She will be watching proudly from heaven as her new great grandson is welcomed into the world.
Pallbearers will be Charlie Singletary, Colby Singletary, Garrett Singletary, Marcus Cook, Tommy Howard, and Charlie Blackstock.

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