1SG Mario Quinones Jr.

Mario Quinones Jr., 51, of Houston, Texas passed away, surrounded by his loving family at home on October 2, 2014. Mario, born on December 26, 1962, is the only son born to the late Mario and Elvira Quiñones, Sr. He was born and raised in Houston’s Manchester area and attended John R. Harris Elementary and James Deady Jr High. A 1981 graduate of Westbury High School, he earned a Bachelors of Science from the University of Houston on December 15, 2002.

1SG Mario Quinones joined the Gco, 143rd Infantry in 1992 at the age of 29. There he served as an infantryman and a communications specialist. In 1995 he was selected to represent the unit on a rotation to the Czech Republic to cross train with their light reconnaissance and surveillance company. In 1997 he served as a communications section leader during the Company deployment to Australia. In 2001 he transferred to the 49th Armored Division Long Range Surveillance Detachment where he served as the Communications Platoon Sergeant. In 2005 he served as a Security Detachment Platoon Sergeant on a rotation to Bosnia-Herzegovnia. In 2009 he served in Afghanistan for two years as where he served as detachment S2. On returning to the U.S. he was assigned as insertion/extraction cell NCOIC in 3/124th Cavalry Squadron until his selection as Bco 1-141 1SG.

He has the Master Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge.

He joined the Joint Forces Counterdrug Task Force in May 1999 and worked with DEA HIDTA as an Investigative Case Analytical Support member. Mario Quinones, Jr was promoted to First Sergeant (1SG) on April 30, 2013.

Mario was an avid reader and collector. He enjoyed cooking and was the family genealogist and archivist, tracing the family roots back to the 1700’s in France. He was a participant in the BP MS 150 bicycle ride from Houston to Austin and also participated in a half-marathon during his deployment in Afghanistan.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 30 years, Norma Villarreal Quiñones, children Mario-Luis and Mayalin Quiñones of Pearland, Texas. Sisters: late Sylvia Santos, (Daniel), Elvira “Cookie” Reyna (Larry), Norma Reyna (Cris), Velma Bordelon (Don), the Villarreal family, numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles.

Visitation will be held at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home Monday, Oct 6th and Tuesday, Oct 7th beginning at 12:00pm each day. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2:00pm Wednesday, October 8, 2014, at Sacred Heart Co Cathedral. The interment will follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Army Military members who served with Mario; MSG David Hunter, MSG Shane Ruppel, 1SG Dan Castro, MAJ Wade Aubin, SFC Davin Marceau, and SFC (RET) Jimmy Flanigan.