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Lila F. Berner


Lila F. Berner

Lila Florence Blocker Berner, 80, of Vanderpool died on Dec. 7, 2018, in San Antonio.

A church service will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Utopia, followed by a graveside service at the Vanderpool Cemetery. A reception will follow at First United Methodist Church of Utopia.

She was born on Dec. 13, 1937, in Houston to Helen (Walker) and  Daniel R. Blocker.

She was raised in Alvin and graduated from Alvin High School. She attended both the University of Texas and Texas Woman’s University.

Berner joined the Houston Police Department in 1960. She was the 11th female officer hired by HPD.

She was first assigned to the juvenile division. The family says she met the love of her life, Frederick Berner, whom she later married, while working there.

She transferred to the forgery division where she became one of the first female officers promoted to detective. She then served for 10 years with the Harris County Organized Crime Unit. She finished 30 years of service to the Houston Police Department in the

burglary and theft unit. She was proud to have served as a police woman in a field that had been primarily reserved for men for many years. The family says women like her led the way for those that would later follow.

She and her husband raised two sons in Alvin. They enjoyed taking the family to visit many historical sites which instilled a love of history in her sons. They visited locations throughout the South and Southwest including Washington D.C., Revolutionary and Civil War battle sites, and Pueblo Indian ruins in the

Southwest. They also traveled extensively throughout Mexico visiting Aztec, Mayan, Toltec and Mixtec ruins.

The couple retired to the West Texas hill country outside of Vanderpool where they purchased a piece of land and built a small home which sits at the juncture of two creeks. A few years later they built their dream home on the same property.

Berner enjoyed the outdoors, and she loved the flora and fauna of the West Texas hill country. She marveled at the beauty of the clear water and the cedar trees. She felt welcomed by many new friends in the hill country and they couple were made to feel at home. They enjoyed working on their property and going on long walks together, in addition to traveling, visiting family and collecting antiques. She felt fortunate to have had an extended retirement of 28 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Berner is survived by her husband of 54 years, Frederick Ernest Berner Sr. of Vanderpool; brother, Dan Blocker of Washington,; two sisters,  Barbara Blocker Wise  and Mona Blocker Garcia; two sons Frederick Berner Jr.  and Kevin Berner, all of Texas; two grandchildren, Marisa Berner and Daniel Berner; three great-grandchildren, Zane Berner, Scarlett Berner and Jude Berner; and lifelong friend, Sue Massey Niehart of Washington.

A viewing was held yesterday at 5 p.m. at Grimes Funeral Home of Bandera.

Grimes Funeral Chapels of Bandera

Lila F. Berner

Lila F. Berner

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