David Bratz

David Bratz, of Palestine, Texas, was born on February 24, 1940, in Palestine to Webster Olan Bratz and Mary Maurine Mosley Bratz. He passed away peacefully on May 31, 2024, at the age of 84, surrounded by his loving family.  During his youth he achieved Star Scout rank in the Boy Scouts, worked in his father’s business, Bratz and Boyd Service Station, and enjoyed outside activities with friends and family. David graduated from Palestine High School in 1958.  After graduation from high school, he attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, where he graduated in 1962 with a degree in Business Administration.

After graduating from SHSU, David went to work for Humble Oil and joined and served in the United States Army Reserves for six years.  He finished his military service as a Specialist E5 Sargent while he was still working for Humble Oil.  David worked as a retail salesman and a retail training instructor in Albuquerque, NM.  When Humble/Exxon sought to send him overseas he chose to return to his hometown of Palestine and began working for his father-in-law, Neual Braly, at Braly Builders Supply. He was an active member of the First Christian Church, his home church. He served as youth director, Sunday School teacher, Elder, and Board Chairman.  Upon his death he was an active member of Court Drive Church.

Later in life, David started his own company, Bratz Business Services, which includes two convenience stores, manufacturing window screens, small remodeling jobs, and painting.  In his down time, he enjoyed adventures with his brothers, known as The B-Boys, and wives on road trips to Natchez, MS, Oklahoma City, OK, Waco, TX, Austin, TX and the Texas Hill Country, and Dallas, TX, George Bush Library, Amarillo to the Forts and Plains Trails, toured West Texas, and Yosemite.  David was always up for a good joke, laughing, and being with family. 

While in Albuquerque, New Mexico, David began his long-time affiliation with Kiwanis, following in the footsteps of his father. He served in Monsanto Kiwanis Club in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the Breakfast Kiwanis Club and Noon Kiwanis Club in Palestine.  He served over 50 years in Kiwanis and was honored to serve as a Lt. Governor in the Texas Oklahoma District Division 26 for three years.  He received the Kiwanis Distinguished Award as Lt. Governor and as President of the Palestine Kiwanis Club.  He loved the affiliation with the Kiwanis and the opportunity to serve his community with an emphasis on children. David was heavily involved in important Kiwanis programs geared towards children’s education. These included Operation Read, providing reading programs, books, and book bags for children. Christmas Boxes, Blue Santa, Wreaths of America. He spent many hours with teachers and counselors creating the foundation for K-Kids clubs within schools.

David took pride in his yard, building a greenhouse for his wife and a shop for him to store his books that he enjoyed reading. He has a large collection of stamps that he acquired over 30 years, beginning in High School. David was an avid supporter of the Palestine High School Booster Club. In a school essay, David wrote, “My plans for the future are to go to college, go into the military service as an officer, and most of all have a good Christian family of my own.”

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Kenneth Bratz.  He is survived by his loving wife, Amanda Dawn Gholson Bratz; two children, Stephanie Braly-Beutjer and husband Michael of Huntsville, Alabama, and Stephen Braly and wife Vicki of Palestine, Texas; grandchildren, Matthew Beutjer, Braly Beutjer, Sam Braly, and Reed Braly. David also leaves behind two brothers, Gerald and wife Kathy of College Station, Texas, and Gary and wife Mary of Austin, Texas; sister-in-law, Patsy Bratz, and several nieces, nephews, and a multitude of friends. 

Friends are invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock until seven o’clock in the evening on Monday, June 3, 2024, at Rhone Funeral Home.

Funeral services to celebrate David Bratz’s life are to be conducted at one o’clock in the afternoon on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at Court Drive Church with Paul Jones, Pastor of Court Drive Church and Danny Rodriquez, Associate Pastor of Evangelistic Temple officiating the service.  Interment will follow in Pilgrim Cemetery in Elkhart, Texas.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Jeff Atkinson, Michael Beutjer, Gary Bratz, Gerald Bratz, Ron Goodwin, Derek Henley, David Ives, and Tommy Sanders.  Honorary pallbearers include the Palestine Kiwanis Club, Charles Bratz, Chuck Bratz, Artis B. Mosely, Tom Watson, and Florencico Mosquedo.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of David Bratz can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or Kiwanis International Children’s Foundation, www.kiwanis.org/who-we-are/kiwanis-childrens-fund/.  

Funeral services for Olan David Bratz are in care of Rhone Funeral Home, 3900 S. State Highway 19, Palestine, Texas. 

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