

Manuel Mendez was born in San Antonio to Manuel Acosta Mendez Sr. and Guadalupe Gomez on July 27, 1941. Manuel grew up in San Antonio but spent summers traveling North with his family, working on cotton farms. After high school, Manuel attended Assembly of God Bible School in Waxahachie, TX, and then transferred to Berean Life Corps International in Dallas, TX, where he met and married Linda Darlene Hill McGuire on December 17, 1966. They graduated together and moved to Monterrey, Mexico, where they managed an orphanage of 15 boys for 2 years and then moved to Coatepec, Mexico, for Evangelical missions for another 2 years. After 4 years of mission work, they returned to San Antonio. Manuel was involved in Christian ministry all his life, organizing and teaching countless Bible studies, mentoring youth through organizations like Teen Challenge, serving people wherever he could, mostly out of his own resources. He worked several years for Smith Chevrolet on Broadway and retired as a school bus driver for the San Antonio Independent School District. These professions were only a means to allow him to minister and serve anyone he could find with a need. Manuel also loved to garden and would place a plant in any available spot he could find. Manuel was faithful, kind, humble, and generous with everything he had. He was a great father and grandfather, always spending time with his family and remembering every special occasion. He really made us all feel loved.
Manuel Gomez Mendez Jr. is preceded in death by parents Manuel Acosta Mendez Sr. (1903-1975) and Guadalupe Gomez (1911-1945) siblings, Anthony Gomez Mendez, Maria Alicia Mendez Contreras, Victor Gomez Mendez, Rosemarie “Rose” Mendez Nino and stepmother Veva Mendez.
Manuel Gomez Mendez Jr. is survived by Linda McGuire-Cooper, sons Victor Antonio Manuel Mendez and David Isaias Abram Mendez, sisters Elida Mendez Nerio and Olivia Mendez Florez Gilbert, grandchildren Madison Mendez, Max Mendez, Hannah Mendez, Abigail Mendez, Elizabeth Mendez, Andrew Mendez, and Samuel Mendez, and many others who would call Manuel “dad or grandpa”.
Pallbearers will be Miguel Herrera, Steven Herrera, Joseph Herrera, Max Mendez, Andrew Mendez, and Samuel Mendez
Visitation will be 6pm-8pm Thursday, April 16, 2026, at Sunset Funeral Home, 1701 Austin Highway, San Antonio, TX 78218
Funeral services will be held at 2pm on Friday, April 17, 2026, at Sunset Funeral Home with Pastor Victor Smith from Hope for a New Life Church and Mel Fechner from HIS Bridge Builders, officiating. A private committal service will follow at Sunset Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to HIS Bridge Builders Ministry.
The Mendez family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Pastor Victor Smith and Mel Fechner for officiating and Steven Herrera for organizing the vigil.
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