OBITUARY

Sheriff Robert Carlos Ynclan

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Sheriff Robert Carlos Ynclan, 63, of Gonzales, passed away Saturday, September 5, 2021. Robert Ynclan was born June 1, 1958 in Dilley, Texas, to Guadalupe and Julia Rosales Ynclan. He married the love of his life Cynthia Marie Porras on October 24, 1980 in the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Shiner, Texas. Robert was a member of Two Rivers Bible Church.

Robert was raised on a working ranch in Cotulla, Texas. He moved with his family to LBJ Ranch in Stonewall, Texas where his father worked, and Robert continued with his love of hunting, fishing, and camping. Robert developed another passion while living at LBJ’s ranch, a love for law enforcement as he watched the Secret Service men serve and protect President Lyndon B. Johnson. Certainly, all the old westerns he watched had an influence as well as Robert clearly felt a calling to be a “Lawman.” Robert also developed into a spectacular high school basketball player and had college scholarship offers to take his game to the next level. But his true calling was a Lawman and Robert went to college to study law enforcement and eventually join the Texas Department of Public Safety. Robert was a dedicated State Trooper and served in this capacity with integrity and devotion to duty until his retirement when he ran for Gonzales County Sheriff. It was far from an easy race for Sheriff as it took a tremendous amount of time, support from many generous constituents and complete faith in God to achieve this goal. But achieve this goal he did, Robert broke the recorded record of tallied votes for Sheriff and became the first Latino Sheriff of Gonzales County. Robert followed his longstanding principles and trust in God to serve his county with a just and honorable approach to best serve all the people in Gonzales County and his beloved state of Texas.

Robert did find some time to play basketball while he served with the Department of Public Safety. He was part of the Police Olympic Basketball team that won their State Tournament and the National Title. Surely this was a great joy for Robert and his teammates, but even this didn’t measure up to his greatest fortune which was meeting Cynthia Porras in the check-out line at a Gonzales Super S grocery store. He saw her again at church and after a few prayers and mustering up a bit of courage, Robert asked Cynthia out on a date and the rest as they say, is history. Robert was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. His had a very strong work ethic and was a great provider for his family. He was a man of high moral character. He led his family by example and with unparalleled love. He freely shared his faith with his family and walked closely with the word of his Lord in his heart. He was an ever-present dad at his children’s academic and sporting events, and he was a very proud father as he happily shared their accomplishments with friends and loved ones. He was so very proud of his family and even though son Jaime is certain he could have taken the ol’ man in basketball, and son Marco has no doubt he could have fanned his dad in three pitches, there was daughter Marrisa, a superior athlete herself, there to cheer her daddy on as he did for her in the countless athletic events she played in throughout her career. Robert Loved. He cherished every moment he had with his wife and children. He was blessed and he knew it, nothing would ever come between him and his family. He felt the same for those he worked beside for they were his family as well. He was an extremely loyal man. His was a world that prescribed faith, family, and career. Nothing could ever detract him from his steadfast tenets, and his beautiful life. Robert Carlos Ynclan was a very big man who through the years touched many thousands of lives with his soft-spoken words, firm but fair nature and remarkable sense of humor. As a lawman he bravely stood before peril everyday with psalm 91 firmly in his heart “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Robert did not succumb to a virus, for a bit of Robert lives on in every person that knew him, and we are all better people because of him.

Robert is survived by his adoring family, wife of nearly 31 years, Cynthia Ynclan, daughter, Marrisa Ynclan, sons, Jaime Ynclan, Marco Ynclan “Samantha Petitt”, grandchildren, Maya Gonzales, Noah Canales and Catori Fae Marie Ynclan, sisters, Gloria Rodriguez, Mary Dailey, Norma Ynclan, and Cindy Moser, brothers and sisters-in-law, Juan and Brenda Ynclan, Lupe and Tina Ynclan, Tony and Becky Ynclan, Luis Ynclan and Joey Ynclan. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Rosa and Lupita Ynclan.

The family will receive friends from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, September 9, 2021 in the J.B. Wells Expo Center in Gonzales. Funeral services will be held at 2 pm Thursday, September 9, 2021 in J.B. Wells Expo Center with Pastor Jesse Elizondo officiating. Interment will follow in the Cementerio Mexicana La Union. Pallbearers: Jaime Ynclan, Marco Ynclan, Lupe Ynclan, Tony Ynclan, Luis Ynclan, Juan Ynclan, Michael Escalate, and Miguel Rodriguez. Honorary pallbearers: Howard Brothers, Judge Patrick Davis, Captain Steven Tellez, Daryl Jiral, E. T. Huey, Tony Rico, Armando Fuentes, Russell Bundy, Lt. Glen Garrett, Travis Hall, Wayne Henkes, Mike Turk, David Nething, Josh Garcia, Paul Ebner and the entire Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office deputies and staff. Memorials may be made to the Air1 Radio, 97.7, McQueeney. Friends may leave their condolences to the family by visiting www.seydlerhillfuneralhome.com.

By request of the Robert Ynclan family, in an effort to prevent further devastation from the virulent Covid 19 virus, protective measures regarding social distancing, and use of personal protective masks will be mandated by the family for the visitation, funeral service, and graveside burial rite. Those remotely symptomatic of COVID-19 are politely asked not to attend. Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.

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