Kathryn Mcbride

Kathryn Nan McBride of Cibolo, Texas went home to be with her Lord on Friday, December 30, 2022. She was preceded by her father John “Jake” William Lenze, her mother Betty Joyce Bonin Lenze, her twin sister Kathy Ann Shirey, and her sister Karen Mae Bagley. Kathryn is survived by her husband James Paul “Buzz” McBride, her three daughters, Kimberly Ha and her husband Jin Ha; Jennifer Sullivan and her husband Jeffrey Sullivan; and Joanna Ruth and her husband Nicholas Ruth. Kathryn has eight grandchildren, Shawn, Kaylee, Jacob, Jayden, Brooklyn, Alexis, Lily, and Cooper.

Kathryn grew up in Aldine, a suburb of Houston. She spent many weekends and summers working the large family gardens in Spring, Texas. She was a member of Grace Missionary Baptist Church in Aldine, Texas, where the three girls sang trio specials as well as singing in the church choir.

Kathryn’s mother passed away with cancer when Kathryn was sixteen. The pastor, Glen and Sharon Tripp helped raise the girls as her dad worked long hours. Upon graduating from Aldine High School in 1971, she attended Sam Houston University for two years, then University of Texas Dental Branch obtaining a registered Dental Hygienist Degree in 1975. Kathryn worked several years as a dental hygienist for multiple dentists in Houston. While attending Sam Houston University, she served the Lord by working as a student missionary on campus. She met Buzz McBride when he returned to Sam Houston to produce a slide presentation for the church college youth group. They dated on and off for four years before tying the knot on April 8, 1977 on her 25th birthday. Kathryn continued working as a dental hygienist in San Antonio, where Buzz was teaching at San Antonio College. They were members of a newly formed mission that later became New Life Missionary Baptist Church. Kathryn taught Sunday school, sang specials, worked with the youth with musical specials and was the church pianist.

In January 1980, her first daughter, Kimberly, was born. Kathryn became a full-time mom only to return to dental hygiene sporadically many years later. In May 1982, Jennifer and Joanna arrived. Having a two year old daughter and twin newborns challenged her but without fail, she brilliantly cared for all three as Buzz taught day and night classes at San Antonio College.

Kathryn lost her twin sister and younger sister within a year. Within a few short years, she also lost her dad and step mom. Her faith in the Lord never wavered.

Kathryn struggled with the loss of her family. In 1990, she was diagnosed with Schizophrenia. This resulted in many hospitalizations throughout the years. Despite the distraction this illness created, Kathryn continued to care for her children diligently. Even though she was unable to attend church, she continued to daily consume the Lord’s words.

One of her first purchases Kathryn made was a good piano that she could practice her hymns for the church service. She still occasionally played that piano with a few missed notes. It gave her memories of times past. Although she was unable to mingle socially with crowds, she still enjoyed her daily phone calls and visits with her children and grandchildren.

There will be a Memorial Service celebrating Kathryn at the First Baptist Church of Universal City (1401 Pat Booker Road, Universal City, TX 78148) on Saturday, January 7, 2022 at 9:30 AM. The Graveside Service will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2023 at 11 AM at Chapel Hill Cemetery (7735 Gibbs Sprawl Rd San Antonio, TX 78239).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in Kathryn’s honor to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). https://www.nami.org