Malcolm was born in San Antonio, TX on November 27, 1938 to Alfred & Elsie Durst Vignes. He married the love of his life Jeanette O'Neill on August 11, 1958. He was a long time member of St. John's Lutheran Church in San Antonio and St. John's Lutheran Church in Boerne. He was a loving father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle and friend who will be dearly missed.
Malcolm was an extremely gifted tradesman who spent his entire professional career in the Heating and Air Conditioning industry. He used those gifts (as his father before him had) to help anyone and everyone in need. There seemingly wasn't anything that he couldn't build or fix including building his own drag race car. Racing was a hobby he enjoyed and excelled at on local and regional race tracks until he walked away from the sport after losing his left wrist and hand in an accident in 1965. Soon after he started his own company and then later became the Service Manager at Glen Johnson Air Conditioning until his retirement in 2004.
He along with his wife were always very active and participating in and supporting the pursuits and needs of their three children and grand children, their church as well as numerous other family and friends. Among other activities these pursuits included but weren't limited to being faithful Luther League Youth Sponsors, teaching & coaching sports and driving floats for Fiesta and regional parades. In many cases Malcolm found a way to design, build or remodel something for those activities, organizations and/or individuals.
Malcolm and Jeanette enjoyed traveling to many destinations throughout their marriage including many overseas trips to Europe. One of their favorite locations was Austria where they were thrilled to take a picture on the same hill where Julie Andrews sang in the Sound of Music. Rome and Vatican City was also very special as they attended Mass with the Pope. In addition, Malcolm was very proud of the fact that Carrier Corporation had installed Air Conditioning in the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel and that as a result he was able to go on a behind the scenes tour to see the install.
He also loved the outdoors especially hunting and fishing. He shared his love with his family and together they would visit Port Aransas several times a year in search of the biggest Red Drum. He never grew tired of waking up at the crack of dawn to go fishing.
He was preceded in death by his parents Alfred and Elsie Vignes, his wife, Jeanette Vignes and grand daughter Kameron Salinas as well as his beloved Romey (a pregnant Lab who adopted him soon after the death of his wife).
He is survived by his children, Dwayne Vignes and his wife Debbie Vignes; daughter, Kristy Salinas and her husband Roel (Roy) Salinas; daughter, Wendy Richter and her husband Edward Richter; grandchildren Douglas Vignes and his wife Colby Vignes, David Vignes and his wife Samantha Vignes, Koelle Salinas, Kenna Salinas, Kayl Richter and his wife Sabrina Richter, Kyle Richter, Kory Richter and Gavin Richter; great grandchildren Emery, Audrey, Matthew, Samuel, Kohen, Raelynn, Ruth, Daylee and Kayn; brother Alfred (Buddy) Vignes and his wife Ardyth and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
The Celebration of Life Service will be 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at University United Methodist Church, 5084 De Zavala, San Antonio, TX 78249. A private family Graveside Service will be held at Sunset Memorial Park.
The family would like to thank the staff's at Heartis Assisted Living and Freedom Hospice for their unwavering kindness and excellent care. The staff truly cared for Malcolm as if he was a family member. He was truly blessed to be there.
