Edward Vrana

Our loving dad, Edward “Slim” James Vrana, of Waco, TX was called home to the Lord on Thursday, July 30, 2022, at the age of 85. He is peacefully reunited with his wife and our mother, Martha Kirkland Vrana.

Born January 3, 1937, he was raised in West, Texas by his parents Joseph and Sophie Vrana. Ed graduated from West High School in 1955 where he was a talented 300-pound lineman and captain of the football team that went by the nickname of “Slim”. He was also voted “Most Popular Boy” by his classmates.

After graduating, Ed worked many different jobs, including General Tire and H-E-B before meeting the love of his life, Martha. Ed and Martha were married on February 9, 1962, in Fort Worth. They moved that same year to Waco where that started a beautiful marriage that lasted 58 years until Martha’s passing in 2020.

After moving to Waco, Ed started his new career as store manager for the Empire Seed Company on Elm Street where he entertained and taught countless customers about gardening and horticulture. He was a prominent fixture there for 42 years before retiring.

In the mid-1970s Ed and Martha worked to save $1000 to purchase a second house that they would rent to people. Over the next several decades, they continued to purchase various properties, creating a very successful and prosperous real estate business.

Ed was a fixture at many high school football games around central Texas as a referee. Ed was highly involved in the Knights of Columbus (Council 1358), where he served as Grand Knight winning back-to-back Council of the Year awards. Like his wife Martha, Ed also volunteered at the St. Louis Catholic Church, St. Louis Elementary, and Reicher Catholic High School.

Both Ed and Martha treated their sons’ classmates as their own and found immense joy in the role of parenting. Ed and Martha were also fixtures at many Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity events at Southwest Texas State University where their sons attended. They were honored by the Mayor of San Marcos who issued a proclamation awarding both as Honorary Citizens of San Marcos.

Ed was known for his broad smile, his ability to float on his feet when dancing, but mostly his kindness toward all everyone he encountered. His impact on the lives of others is immeasurable and his legacy will endure forever.

Ed was preceded in death by his wife Martha, his parents, Joseph and Sophie Vrana, and his brother, Joseph (Jody) Vrana.

He is survived by his loving sons, Keith Vrana and his wife, Kimberly, Scott Vrana and his wife Monica; and his two sisters Mary Bittenbinder and Marcella Wolf and Marcella’s husband, Bob. He is also survived by his five adoring grandchildren, Blake Edward, Darby Rae, Alec Scott, Isabella Noelle, and Laston Kirkland Vrana; and numerous family members that loved him.

Because of the 2020 pandemic and limitations in place for large gatherings, the family was unable to properly honor Martha when she passed. Therefore, the family has decided to hold a service for both Ed and Martha, that will take place at St. Louis Catholic Church in Waco, TX on Friday, August 5, 2020, at 10:00am. A graveside service will follow at St. Mary’s cemetery in West, Texas.

The pallbearers are Blake Vrana, Alec Vrana, Laston Vrana, Grant Gilbert, Clayton Heitmiller, Kyle Reeves, and Mike Jansing.

The family would like to thank all the Baylor Scott and White ICU doctors and nurses who cared for Ed. They went above and beyond to make him comfortable, allowing him to enter Heaven with the dignity that he so deserved.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations are made to Bishop Louis Reicher Catholic School or to the Ronald McDonald House be made instead.

The family invites you to share a memory or send an email to the familiy at the OakCrest Web Site, www.oakcrestwaco.com