Ana and Jesus Cardenas

Jesus Cardenas, born on January 23, 1928, in San Antonio, Texas, entered eternal rest on February 16, 2021, at the age of 93. His beloved wife, Ana Victoria Cardenas, born on August 1, 1935, in San Antonio, Texas, entered eternal rest on February 22, 2021, at the age of 85.

On November 28, 1964, the two were married at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio, Texas. They were married for 56 years and together they raised three children while he worked as a Logistics Management Specialist at Kelly Air Force Base and she worked, once the children started school, at Leos Bookkeeping Service.

Jesus was known by his family and friends as Jesse or Chuy. He was a devout Catholic and was faithful to his family and work. He spent his freshman year of high school at Central Catholic High School before finishing at San Antonio Vocational and Technical High School (Fox Tech High School) and then obtaining his G.E.D. in 1948. He enlisted and began his three years of service in the U.S. Army on July 16, 1947; there, he received electronics equipment training at The Signal Corps School at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. After his Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Army on July 15, 1950, he began his civil service career as a Logistics Management Specialist at Kelly Air Force Base. He served at Kelly Air Force Base for 39 years until his retirement in 1989. In total, he served his country as a soldier and civilian for 42 years. Jesus enjoyed spending time with his family and watching the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Cowboys. He engineered numerous memorable summer vacations to various parts of the United States with his family. He was also adept at repairing items around the house or in the garage.

Victoria graduated from San Antonio Vocational and Technical High School (Fox Tech High School) in 1953. She worked as a bookkeeper for Charles Pharmacy immediately following high school and later as a clerk at Kelly Air Force Base before working for over 20 years as a bookkeeper for Leos Bookkeeping Service. She would share with her family her recollections of growing up near downtown San Antonio with her three sisters, parents, and three aunts. She was a wonderful cook and loved to bake, especially during the Christmas holidays. Her immediate and extended family would look forward to their gifts of holiday cookies every year. She also loved getting together with her friends to play bunco or canasta. Her faith and her family were her top priorities. She and her sisters took care of their three aunts when they were in their final stages of life. She also never turned down an opportunity to take care of her six grandchildren.

Jesus is preceded in death by his parents, Juan G. and Blandina Espericueta Cardenas; his sisters, Rosario Fonseca and Maria Luisa Ibarra; his brother, Jose Augustin Garza; and his infant son, Gabriel Cardenas.

Victoria is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Jesus Cardenas; parents, Francisco and Soledad Gutierrez Perez; sisters, Sara P. Rea (and brother-in-law Tony C. Rea), Rosa Maria Tellez, and Yolanda A. Leos; infant sister, Margarita Perez; infant brother, Francisco Perez; aunts, Maria Guadalupe Gutierrez, Dolores Gutierrez, and Encarnacion Guzman; and infant son, Gabriel Cardenas.

Jesus and Victoria are survived by their children, Raul Cardenas (Diana), Gabriel R. Cardenas (Melinda), and Rebecca Cardenas; and grandchildren, Alexander R. Cardenas, Ana D. Cardenas, Abigail M. Cardenas, Joshua G. Cardenas, Caleb B. Cardenas, and Matthew D. Cardenas; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Visitation will begin Thursday, March 18, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Porter Loring Mortuary Chapel, 1101 McCullough, San Antonio, Texas. Funeral Mass will be offered on Friday, March 19, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Catholic Church. Interment will follow at San Fernando Archdiocesan Cemetery No. 2.