Richard Ludwig Errhalt

It is with deep sadness, emotion, and respect we announce that Major Richard L. Errhalt (Retired U. S. Army) passed away on November 24, 2017 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was 87. He was born in Kirchdorf, Austria to Richard and Hildegard Errhalt. He was the eldest of four brothers that grew up and lived in Freistadt Austria, during World War II. After the war ended, Richard was selected for the Senator Fulbright Scholarship to study at Michigan State College in the United States for one year. After completing his scholarship, he returned to Austria and continued his studies at the University of Vienna. Because of his hard work, gratitude, and interest in returning to the United States, Richard was sponsored by the Browning family from Michigan. Through their generosity and thoughtfulness he was offered the opportunity to return to the U. S. and continue his studies at Michigan State University (MSU). While in school and shortly after returning to the United States, he registered and was then drafted into the U. S. Army, where he proudly served for 20 years. Fortunately for him and his family, Richard’s first assignment was to the Canal Zone in the Republic of Panama, where he met and married the love of his life, Ixora “Ixi” Solano. While in Panama, he continued his distinguished military career and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U. S. Army. In 1959, he left Panama to return to MSU to complete his education. While at MSU, he attained his Bachelor’s and a year later his Master’s degree. Prior to completing his PHD in 1962 he was reassigned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma and later to Fort Monroe, Virginia in 1967, where his family lived while Richard served a one year tour of duty in Vietnam. After his return from Vietnam, he honored and fulfilled a promise to Ixi and requested an assignment back to Panama, so she could go back home. While in Panama, he was stationed at Fort Amador and served out the remainder of his military career there and retired from the U. S. Army with the rank of Major, in 1974. After his retirement, he accepted a civil service position with the Panama Canal Commission (PCC) in the Office of Personnel Management. He worked for many years with the PCC and in 1980 moved with the Defense Mapping Agency, headquartered in Fort Sam Houston, to San Antonio, Texas. He attained various government positions up until his retiring in 1994 from the Health Services Command in Fort Sam. After retirement, he remained in San Antonio, Texas where he and Ixi enjoyed traveling, gardening, and watching their family and grandchildren grow. Sadly for Richard and family, in May 2015, Ixi passed away after a brief illness. They had been happily married for over 59 years. Although Richard and Ixi were proud of the successes and accomplishments of their family, they were both extremely humbled to be naturalized American citizens, and for Richard, honored and proud to be an American Military Veteran. Richard and Ixi are survived by their five children: Ingrid Bryan, Richard Errhalt Jr, Giselle Carteret, Glenn Errhalt, and Michael Errhalt. Additionally, “Opa and Oma” will be greatly missed by their grandchildren: Erikka Errhalt, Richard Errhalt, Ryan Carteret, Britney Carteret, Alec Errhalt, Bonny Bryan (Johnny Johnston, great grandsons Chase and Sayer Johnston, Lucas and Seth Grogg), Bruce Bryan (Virginie, great granddaughters Sophie and Sydney) and Karenna Bryan. Also, their daughter-in-law Terry Errhalt, and sons-in-law Richard Bryan and Charles Carteret, and brother, Wilfred Errhalt and extended family, who reside in Austria, and sister-in-law, Beverly Errhalt and extended family from Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. A Funeral Mass honoring Richard and Ixora will be held on Wednesday, December 27th at 10:30 a.m. at St. Matthew Catholic Church located at 10703 Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78230 followed by the Memorial Service, with Full Military Honors, at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. located at 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209. If you would like to send flowers, the family prefers they be sent to the Funeral Mass at St. Matthew Catholic Church at the address listed above. Any contributions may be made in their memory to the American Cancer Society. Also, for personal acknowledgements or to express condolences, please visit the online guestbook at www.neptunesociety.com/location/san-antonio-cremation.