Epigmenio ‘Epi’ Quintanilla, Jr, 87, beloved husband, father and doting grandfather, passed away on October 21, 2020. He was born in Laredo,Texas on May 29,1933 to Epigmenio Quintanilla and Hortencia Vaca. Epi moved to Dallas as a teen to live with his dad, stepmother, Isaura ‘Laura’ and his stepbrother Fidel Benavides, and graduated from Crozier Tech HS. Afterwards, he enlisted in the US Army and was stationed in Austria during the Korean War. He was trained to ski there which was a treat for someone from south Texas. Epi was later stationed in Germany where he met his future wife, Helen Brandl, in the picturesque town of Fuessen. They were married there in 1955 but made their home in Dallas where he primarily worked for ARCO for 25 years as an Offset Printer. After retirement, he became a member of the Blue Shirts in the Korean War Veterans Assoc, taking part in many Veterans Day parades. But he especially enjoyed playing trombone in the New Horizons Concert Band and performing in Christmas Concerts at Northpark as well as other concerts around the city. Epi is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Rosario Aguilar of Laredo, his stepmother and his stepbrother. His is survived by his devoted wife, Helen, of almost 65 years, his daughter Cindy Gehrmann and husband Willi of Geilenkirchen, Germany, his daughter Germaine O’Donnell and husband Greg of Dallas, his brother Ed Quintanilla and wife Norma of Irving, his stepsister-in-law Jayne Benavides, his grandchildren James O’Donnell and wife Misa, Rachel O’Donnell, Kristopher Gehrmann and many nieces and nephews. We would like to thank all the caregivers that have cared for him especially Amanda Powell, RN and Alice Ogundeeinde of VNA, Tiru Hailemariam and Mandy Van Kamp. Their help to the family has been immeasurable in the last 18 months. Burial will be at Dallas-Ft Worth National Cemetery on Tuesday, Oct 27 at 10:30am. A memorial mass will take place at a later date.
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