Roger Z. Almaraz

Roger (Rogelio) Z. Almaraz, age 85, passed away August 16, 2016 at home in San Antonio, TX surrounded by his family and loved ones. Roger, lovingly called Güero by his wife of 60 years, was born on May 14, 1931 in San Antonio, TX to Augustine and Clemencia Almaraz.

Mr. Almaraz was preceded in death by his son, Ronnie Almaraz.

He is survived by his wife, Mary (Maria) Almaraz and his children Roger and wife Elida, Roland, Rodney, Michelle and wife Crystal and his grandchildren Buster, Annie, Elsie, PJ, Blanco and Ajax.

Roger was a hard worker all his life beginning with his job as a shoeshine boy and later as a teenage delivery boy delivering telegrams by bicycle for Western Union in downtown San Antonio. After proudly graduating from Sidney Lanier High School, home of the Voks, he went on to serve his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean war. He married his wife, Mary, on July 1st, 1956 in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in San Antonio. The bulk of his working career was spent as a cabinet maker for a local lumber yard. But, he was also a novice mechanic and overall handyman who never shied away from a challenge when something was in need of repair.

In his spare time Roger loved fishing in the Port Aransas and Rockport areas, listening to music including his favorite type of music which was Big Band music by artists such as Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, and Tommy Dorsey. He was also a big movie fan and has passed on to his heirs his vast collection of movies from the classics to the more current.

Roger (Rogelio) Almaraz will be remembered most of all for providing his family a better opportunity in life and for instilling in all of them a hard work ethic and that nothing in life comes free. Roger was a loving, supportive father and husband who will never be forgotten and whose children can only hope to be as good a man as he was.

Visitation will be 5-8 pm on Thursday, August 25th, 2016 at Sunset Funeral Home. The Funeral Service will be at 10am, Friday, August 26th, at Sunset Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with Military Honors.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to the San Antonio Humane Society, www.sahumane.org.