John was born in Galveston to Ben and Marian Hernandez. He attended Breckinridge Elementary, Marshall Junior High, and Jefferson Davis High School where he graduated in the Class of 1958. Thereafter, John graduated from the Houston Barber College. He was married to the love of his life Engracie Hernandez for 58 years and 9 months.
John was a member of the Texas Army National Guard for 10 years.
John was very proud of being a barber and a hair stylist and caring for his customers. John loved fishing and crabbing and spending time with his children, his family, his church and playing Bingo. John was a member of the Young At Heart group at St. Patrick’s Church, and he loved going on trips to the casinos with the Young at Heart group.
John was predeceased in death by his parents, his four sisters, his parents-in-law Alberto and Juana Hernandez, his infant son, his son Martin Alvarez Jr., and his grandson Robert.
John is survived by his children Engracie Deborah, Sharon Elaine, John Gilbert Jr, Barbara Lynn, and Lucinda Ann (Lucy); his grandchildren Ashley, Audra , Pierre, Patrick, Thomas, Benjamin, Sophia, Ryan, Jonathan, and Santiago; and his great-grandchildren Princess, Gracie, Bella, and Noah; his three sons-in-law and his brother in law, Santos Hernandez.
The pall bearers for John will be his sons-in-law Glenn Schuck, Johnny Razo, and Robert Realyvasquez, as well as Rudy Tijerina, Craig Mullenix, and Gabriel Garcia.
We would like to thank the Retama Nursing Home in Victoria as well as the following people from St. Dominic's Village for being part of our family and caring for John: Chief Executive Officer Amy Shields, Dena, Veronica (drop it like it's hot), Maria, Amir, Kirsten, Sister Gertrude , Mike and many others.
