Birth Record
Found her on the 1940 Other Places, Medina, Texas census (dist 163-2 img 11) as
Barbara Rath age 9.
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!
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 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.