Frank G. Cerda Sr.

Frank, one of 11 siblings, grew up during the Great Depression. His traditional education ended before high school graduation but his continuing education did not! To help feed the family, Frank’s first job at age 12 was a paper boy in downtown Houston. Many different jobs followed until he worked in a special grocery store. Special because it was across the street to an egg candle lighting business which employed a beautiful young woman named Matilde, (Tillie). World War II had started and Frank and Tillie married in 1942, shortly before Frank was drafted into the Army.

Frank served “for the duration” of WWII and was assigned to the 154th General Hospital in England across the channel from the DDay Invasion. Frank returned to Houston after the end of WWII where he and Tillie built a home and they reared their family. Frank worked as a welder then apprenticed as a steel fabricator. He loved the creativity of fabricating! Frank began his own business in 1977, Cerda Welding, and worked for himself several years until retiring in the 1980s. Members of the Greatest Generation, Frank and Tillie truly lived the American Dream. During their 77 year marriage, they owned their home, two rentals and their business, attended and helped support their church, and volunteered in the Neighborhood Civic Club. And, until his last day, Frank was still an avid reader!

Frank is survived by his children, Alice Perrenot, Frank Cerda Jr. and wife Thelma, Mary Linda Carranco and husband Alfred. Grandchildren, Christine, Stephanie, Rodney, Laura, Stephen, and Shawn. Great-Grandchildren, Caitlin, Timothy, Sydney, Seth, Brooke, Allison, Carrisa and Daniel. Great-Great-Grandchild, Ezra.

A visitation will be held in his honor on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 from 9:00 am-10:00 am, inside the Chapel of American Heritage Funeral Home, 10710 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77038. The Celebration of Life service will commence on the same day at 10:00 am, after which he will be escorted to the Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77038, where he will be laid to rest.