Barbara Louise 'Bobbie' Rath Christopher, age 86 of Hondo, peacefully went to be with her Lord and Savior, surrounded by family, Jan. 23, 2017, in Lytle. She was born May 20, 1930, in Hondo, the oldest child of Alfred Matt Sr. and Irene Marie Finger Rath. Her parents owned City Bakery in Hondo, and she helped out there as she grew up. She attended St. John's Catholic School, then Hondo High School, where she was an avid member of the Glee Club and Pep Squad. She and about a dozen girlfriends formed a social group they called the Sub Debs. Following high school, she attended Draughon's Business School, then began working for Davis Insurance Company. A blind date proved life-changing, as she met the love of her life, Chester Franklin 'Chris' Christopher of Kingsville, then an Air Force trainee at Lackland Air Force Base. He wooed her and swept her off her feet, taking her flying in a private plane he co-owned with a friend. They married May 26, 1950, in Hondo, starting their life together in an upstairs apartment they rented in a converted home in downtown San Antonio. They did not have a car, but they did own an airplane! The couple moved where the Air Force sent them, and Bobbie worked as a secretary on base. When her husband was sent with a bomber group to Korea, Bobbie moved back home to Hondo to await the birth of their first child who was born in 1952, while Chris was still fighting for his country. He arrived home to meet his son a few days after the birth. Their second child, a daughter, arrived in 1953, while the family lived on base in Lake Charles, LA. After discharge from the military, the couple moved to New Jersey where their last five children were born. The couple joined the Eastern Air Lines family when Chris was hired as a flight engineer. Bobbie cared for their home and children while Chris worked his way up to first officer (co-pilot) and then captain. A lifelong homemaker, Bobbie learned to function like a single mother as her husband's job took him away from home for days at a time on a regular basis. She was active in her children's schools as a room mother, and their Boy and Girl Scout troops; she bowled and joined the New Shrewsbury Women's Club. An enthusiastic supporter of her husband's passion for aviation, she watched as he rebuilt two vintage warbirds, then piled the family in the station wagon and drove to air shows where he exhibited and flew his plane, delighting in watching his skill as a pilot. She had a genuine love for aviation, encouraging her children to love it as well. She was also fascinated with the space program, and as far as her kids know, never missed watching televised space launches. When her beloved sweetheart was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor at age 39, she cared for him in their home for several months during his chemo and radiation, then they moved back to Hondo to be closer to family, knowing he would not survive the cancer. She was intensely devoted to him, spending much of every day in the hospital with him. She was widowed at 40, in 1970, with seven children ages six to 18. Undaunted, Bobbie bought a motor home the summer after Chris passed, and began taking the family camping. She was incredibly adventurous, driving them all over the U.S., with the first trip being one of two cross-country trips back to New Jersey to visit old friends. A favorite camping spot was Garner State Park, where she and the kids spent many, many fun-filled days at the Frio River. Her love for Garner began as a small child, going there with her grandparents, then as a teen with friends. Bobbie was never happier than when sitting in her chaise lounge under the cypress trees along the Frio, with her crackers and cheese, and a good book. At dusk, she'd round up the kids and head to the jukebox dance at the Pavilion, where, just as she did as a teenager with her friends, they danced the night away. Everything she did, from the time her kids were born, was designed to keep them close as a family. She took them swimming at the beach, picnicking and camping, to amusement parks and zoos, and many other activities, all in the name of fun. Family reunions with the Rothes, Fingers and Raths were of great importance to her and she seldom missed one. She was a devoted mother and grandmother, delighting in the births of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A devout Christian, Bobbie practiced her Catholic faith all her life, teaching her children and grandchildren by example Who Jesus is and why they should know Him and love Him. She served as a religious education teacher at St. John's for many years, teaching multiple generations of families. She was a loving servant of her Lord, as a member of St. John's Altar Society, St. John's Historical Society and praying with the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy. In her community, Bobbie enjoyed learning new things with the Extension Homemakers group, taking up quilting and other crafts. She studied German with a local group. Joining the Castro Colonies Historical Association, she discovered more about her family's deep roots in Medina County. She was a direct descendent of two of the original Castro Colony settlers. She was able to continue the Christopher family farm heritage in Kingsville, now lasting over 100 years. She was a member of Texas Farm Bureau. Active in her local AARP Chapter, Bobbie never missed an opportunity to camp with the fun bunch at H-E-B Camp in Leakey. She loved playing with the D'Hanis Rook Club for decades, looking forward to it every month, especially enjoying hosting these friends in her home. She loved line-dancing as well. Even following a stroke in 1995, she continued to dance with her group, Jack and the Step Sisters, later called the Hondo Line Dancers, at the Senior Nutrition Center. A hip fracture in 2006 knocked her down for a bit, but she returned determined as ever, and continued to dance with the group until just a few months before she passed away. Bobbie loved to travel, and began attending the Retired Eastern Pilots Association conventions in the 1980s as a way of staying connected to the Eastern family. Held in various locations across the country, she renewed old friendships each year and toured nearby attractions. After her first stroke, her daughter began traveling with her, as Bobbie wasn't about to miss the good times with the Eastern bunch. After a fashion, her other daughter joined in, and the trio became known to the Eastern friends as The Christopher Gals. Judy and Diane were even invited to write a story for the Retired Eastern Pilots Assn. magazine, Repartee, about their parents and why they loved to come to the conventions, which they did with their brother, David. It was published last year, shortly before Bobbie's last convention. One of the captains referred to her as the First Lady of the conventions. She was a former colonel with the Commemorative Air Force-Tex Hill Wing and partial sponsor of the Wing's Stinson L-5. She was intensely loyal and devoted to her friends, often driving them to doctor's appointments, Broadway plays and the Symphony in San Antonio. She was always available to help people and even in her last months, visited family and friends at Community Care Center. Despite her hardships, she never lost her sweetness and never, ever complained about her difficulties. After her stroke, she worked hard to regain as much of her independence as possible. Although some found it difficult to converse with her, she never gave up trying to participate in community organizations and activities. Her children and grandchildren marveled at her ability to persevere through it all, and she taught them so much. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sister, Fay Dell (David) McGraw; grandson, David Christopher Jr.; daughter-in-law, Susan Christopher; sister-in-law, Dorothy Ploug; brother-in-law, Martin (Doris) Christopher; and nephews, Alfred and David Ploug. She is survived by her children, Charles F. 'Chuck' Christopher of Kingsville, Judy Ann (Jeff) Parks of Onalaska, WA, Michael (Mary) Christopher of Cypress, TX, David (Joy) Christopher of Kingsville, Diane (Claude) Cosgrove of Hondo, Steve (Linda) Christopher of Claremore, OK, and Chester F. 'Frankie' Christopher II of Covington, LA; grandchildren, Joann (Tim) Neuman, Julie (Bryan) Bailon, Tracy (Jimmy) Rhodes, Joey (KayC) Parks, Brian Cosgrove, Michael (Lyndsey) Christopher, Christopher 'Chris'(Chrissy) Cosgrove, Andrew Christopher, Henry Christopher, Grant (Terri) Christopher and Sara Christopher; 17 great-grandchildren; one step-great-grandson; brother, Alfred M. (Judy) Rath Jr.; brother-in-law, Andrew Christopher; sister-in-law, Martha (Robert) Murphy; Texas nieces and nephew, Robyn (Rob) Fuller, Patricia (Clayton) Krause and Matthew (Kellie) Rath; and numerous other nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives. The rosary was recited Jan. 26 at Guinn-Horger Funeral Chapel. Funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 27 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Hondo. She is at rest beside her husband in Hondo Cemetery, Oakwood Section. Memorials may be made to HANK, Inc.; Friends of the Hondo Public Library; St. John's ACTS Youth group; or CAF-Tex Hill Wing.