Tributes

Hilda S. Ploetz, beloved Mom, Grandmother, Sister and Friend, went to be with her Lord on March 16, 2022, at age 92. She was born in San Antonio on January 15, 1930, to Arthur and Hulda Skolaut and had a loving childhood on the family farm. After graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School, she worked with her sister, Irene, at Frost Brothers in downtown San Antonio. It was at a regular evening at a dancehall with her cousins that she met the love of her life, John Ploetz. They were married on November 3, 1948. They were a fun-loving couple and had many adventures. They spent their time together enjoying life and spending time with family and lots of friends before starting their family in 1955. They had three children together and raised them to be the best they could be. The family enjoyed camping and fishing together, which provided many happy memories. A little bit of light went out of her life when John died in 1996, but she kept on living and taking care of everyone. They are now reunited and that gives us comfort. Mom devoted her life to taking care of her family. As a stay-at-home Mom, she was Room Mother for all three of us and was always ready to bake cookies, cupcakes, serve as a field trip chaperone or anything else that needed to be done. She was always there for us. She did finally find gainful employment after all three of us kids were out of grade school. She was an Avon Lady for many years and later a Sales Rep for International Trading Company out of Houston, and was successful at both. But her full-time job still remained being MOM and later on MeMaw and Oma. She raised us to be responsible, kind, caring and to enjoy life every day. We think Mom was kind of a Renaissance woman. She was curious and always interested in learning how to do something. She and her best friend, Dorothy, got interested in ceramics. They learned everything one needed to know, invested in molds, slip, paint and even a kiln, and made and sold beautiful ceramic planters and other items. Another time she decided to try her hand at making homemade wine. There were bottles of all kinds of wine percolating in the back room for a couple of years. Almost all of it was good…the fig and carrot wines were delicious; the jalapeno wine not so much. But it was something she wanted to try. And she did, always successfully. We can’t think of anything she ever failed at. She loved to have fun and appreciated a good joke. Mom adored playing cards and was ALWAYS up for a game, especially when she could beat the pants off her granddaughter’s husband, Jackson. She loved to be outside, pulling weeds and taking care of her flowers. She read and did word searches to keep her brain in tiptop shape. She crocheted up a storm, creating blankets and throws for all of us and for Project Linus. But Mom’s true passion was volunteering with the Girl Scouts. She began her scouting service as a Brownie troop leader for her oldest daughter, Nancy, in 1962. She continued her scouting by serving as a troop leader for her second daughter, Lori, and granddaughters, Amanda and Dawn. And although she was never a Boy Scout leader, she fully supported her son, John, in his successful quest to become an Eagle Scout. Mom’s “happy place” was Girl Scout Camp Mira Sol outside of Waring. She loved nothing better than spending time there with her various troops or with other volunteers for working weekends, which usually ended each day with a fun-filled card game. Her camp name was “Daddy Long Legs”, not because of the spider, but because no one could keep up with her. Every year she looked forward to planning, preparing, and participating in the Camp Mira Sol “Haunted Forest” in October. With glow sticks attached to her black jeans and sweatshirt, she really had fun with the girls by jumping out of the dark as a fluorescent Mrs. Bones to give them a scare. She spent many happy days at Camp Mira Sol and was deeply saddened when the Girl Scout Council decided to close the camp and sell the property. She was honored by the Girl Scouts many times throughout the years for her continuous service. As was noted during one of the ceremonies, “Nobody knows just how long Hilda Ploetz has been around this council, but nobody remembers a time when she wasn’t here!”. She was a life-long Girl Scout and was always there to offer guidance, listen to a concern, provide understanding, and be a friend and mentor to many girls. To say she will be missed is an enormous understatement. I think her granddaughter, Dawn, said it best: “I’ve been searching for the words for the past few days and they just all fail me. Oma was a force. She loved fiercely, she would meet you at the table as you were-faults and all-with a cup of coffee, playing cards, and probably some delightful cake she had just whipped up. She was fun, and joy, and all the best things in life embodied. She was quick witted, funny, and the best darn cook. She led and taught so many through Girl Scouts and man did troop 663 hit the jackpot having Daddy Long Legs lead us. I learned so much from her in my life and some of my very favorite memories involve her. To say I was blessed by this woman for the past almost 30 years of my life would be a gross understatement. I’m having trouble picturing life without her because I haven’t known such a thing. Heartbroken doesn’t seem to have it covered. Here’s to you Oma. Thanks for loving my little family and I. For kicking our butts in cards on the regular. For making Friday night dinner for all of us for as long as I’ve been alive. Mostly, thank you for being you. Love you and will miss you beyond belief.” She is gone from this earth but will always be in our hearts. Mom, we love you now and forever. Thank you for always being there for all of us. Hilda was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Hulda; brother, Alvin; husband, John; and daughter, Lori Nell. She is survived by her faithful rescue dog and constant companion, Jasper; her sister, Irene Baldridge of Leon Valley; brother-in-law, Bill Ploetz of Gonzalez; daughter, Nancy (John) Huggins of Kempner; son, John (Vanessa) Ploetz of Boerne; grandchildren, Robert Huggins (Darcie) of Kyle; Tanner (Katie) Ploetz of Boerne; Dawn (Jackson) Miller of Boerne; Amanda Ploetz (Ruben) of San Antonio; great-grandchildren, Zane and Zorin Ploetz; Declan and Maverick Miller; and Eric and Samantha Huggins; and many nieces, nephews and friends. Honorary pallbearers will be her nephews, Martin Taege and Bill Ploetz; grandsons, Robert Huggins and Tanner Ploetz; grandson-in-law, Jackson Miller; and great-grandson, Zane Ploetz.

Tributes

Hilda Skolaut Ploetz

January 15, 1930 - March 16, 2022