Indalecio Vela Jr.

Indalecio Vela, Jr. (Andy Vela) of Corpus Christi, Texas passed away on January 2, 2023 at the age of 93. Born on June 30, 1929 in Falfurrias, Texas to Mr. Yndalecio Vela, Sr. and Mrs. Josefina Carrejo Vela, Indalecio Vela, Jr. would go on to bring a great deal of pride to his family. After graduating from Benavides High School, he joined the U.S. Air Force in 1948 and served as a medic during the Korean War. Using the support offered by the GI Bill, Indalecio became the first person in his family to receive a college education from Texas A&M University, College Station. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the university in 1956 as one of only a handful of Mexican Americans among A&M’s graduates, and he remained an extremely proud Aggie for his entire life. He greatly valued education, and he obtained his Master’s Degree from Texas A&I Kingsville in 1964. Indalecio encouraged his siblings, children, and grandchildren to seek out higher education themselves, and proudly attended many graduations. He was an extremely devoted husband to Naida B. Vela, who he always introduced as “my beautiful wife”, a wonderful father to his three children, and a beloved grandfather. He is preceded in death by his parents, Yndalecio Vela, Sr., his mother, Josefina Carrejo, his sisters, Sarita Cantu, Gloria Martinez, Maria Elena Garza, and his brother, Hector Vela.

Indalecio adored his wife and children. He coached his children’s sports, supported their professional and educational goals, and was always happy to offer help to his family and friends. He touched many lives as a teacher and principal for 32 years before retiring in 1987. He traveled the world with his wife, enjoyed swimming daily, and was an avid sports fan. As a devout Catholic, he attended mass regularly and instilled a deep faith in his children as well. He was a fantastic storyteller, and would sit for hours with his grandchildren, passing down our family’s history, the memories he shared with his wife, or a complete review of any topic on an upcoming exam.

Indalecio is survived by his beloved wife, Naida B. Vela; his three children, Belinda M. Vela-Reyna (Dr. Rowland Reyna); Lawrence Theodore Vela (Renee Vela); and Ronald Ross Vela (Rhonda Vela); his two brothers, Alvaro Vela (Imelda Vela) and Jose Vela (Janie B. Vela); his grandchildren, Alexandria Vela Reyna, Mia Reyna, Sierra Garza (Anthony Garza), Matthew Brian Vela (Sarah Vela), Randy Vela (Andrea Vela), Samuel Freund, Danielle Freund, Danielle Iapichino, and John Reyna; and his great grandchildren, Jayden C. Vela, Rhoen A. Vela, Alessandro C. Vela, and Landon G. Garza, as well as many loving nieces and nephews and extended family.

We wish to express a special thank you to Dr. Rowland Reyna, Matthew Brian Vela, Cynthia Maqueda, Seasons Memory Care & Assisted Living in San Antonio, Texas and Compassus Hospice for their loving care and support of our father.

A rosary will be held on Monday January 9, 2022 at 7 p.m. at Memorial Holly Funeral home located at 3442 Holly Rd. Corpus Christi, Texas. A memorial mass with be held on January 10, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church located at 3502 Saratoga Corpus Christi, Texas.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.FunerariaDelAngelMHolly.com for the Vela family.