Francisco B. Cristan

Frank Cristan, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. His eternal soul was set free from this world on the morning of May 3, 2007. He was born to Cleofas and Higinia Cristan on October 6, 1935 and raised in the small South Texas town of Mirando City. There he grew to love the town and the people who populated the South Texas Chaparral lands.

After enlisting in the armed services and completing his duty he joined his family that had since moved to San Antonio in the mid 50's. There he worked at the family business, Cristan's Grocery, as a butcher in the market. After his marriage to Emma they decided to go on their own and founded Cristan's Tacos Restaurant in 1966 and settled into the business that still exists today 41 years later.

Known to many friends and customers as "El Primo", a nickname given to him because he considered everyone his friend and "cousin under the skin". With his easygoing and unselfish personality he quickly made friends wherever he was. Frank was a simple man who loved life, his family and his work.He always took time to enjoy his family and his hobbies. He loved to travel, collect antiques of all kinds, he loved the outdoors, and always reminded us to eat a good meal every day because "that's all that you're taking with you."

He never lost his love for the small town where he grew up, returning there frequently over his lifetime to catch up with old friends and family and to comb the Chaparral for those darn arrowheads that were so elusive. His love for antiques would lead folks who visited his home to comment that it "looked like a museum in there." Blessed with a great sense of humor he always had a good story to tell, never at a loss for words.

Frank is preceded in death by his father, Cleofas and mother, Higinia; brother, Pedro. He is survived and celebrated by wife, Emma; sons, Frank Jr. and Bruno and wife, Grace; grandchildren, Gabriella Nicole, Francisco Sebastian III and Nicholas Damian. He is also survived by his brother, David Cristan; sisters, Elvia Garcia, Rosa Linan, Rosario Canales and Lucy Cristan; numerous nieces and nephews and their families.