Maxine Snapka, the owner of one of the oldest diners in Corpus Christi, died July 26 at the age of 103.
Snapka's Drive Inn was founded in 1948 by brothers Method and Rudy Snapka, a year before Method Snapka married Maxine Winkler in 1949. The business grew to five locations, with two locations still open. Method Snapka died in 2002. Rudy Snapka died in 1995.
"She was active in the business until the last few months of her life," according to a Facebook post from Snapka's Drive Inn. "Other than her family, nothing brought her more joy than to share memories with her longtime customers, and meeting folks who were new to Snapka’s made-to-order quality."
In a 2023 interview to mark her 100th birthday, Maxine told the Caller-Times that she loved the tacos
and enchiladas served at Snapka's.
The restaurant's hard-shell tacos were inspired by a 1953 trip Method and Maxine Snapka took to California, according to the restaurant website.
According to the Facebook post, services are pending.
Olivia Garrett reports on education and community news in South Texas. Contact her at olivia.garrett@caller.com.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Corpus Christi restaurant matriarch Maxine Snapka dies at 103
