Arturo Hernandez

Arturo Hernandez, Sr., 84, went to be with Our Lord on July 22, 2013 surrounded by his family. He was born to the union of Manuel Hernandez and Rebecca Benavides in Harlingen, Texas on May 12, 1929. “Art” was an only child and was raised during the depression. Our father found a “hand of support” with the family of Victoria Garcia, a single mother who was also raising her own family. As my father tells it, he found “a sense of family” and is forever grateful to this remarkable woman for taking him in and giving him a new perspective of family and life. As a teenager, he enrolled and trained with Company “A” 26th Bn., Texas State Guard, Harlingen, Texas. At the age of 16, near the end of WWII, he dropped out of school in the 10th grade and signed up with the Merchant Marines as a seaman where he served in foreign vessels escorted by the U.S. Navy to supply our U,S Troops with munitions and fuel in Europe. Our father served on the S.S. Archers Hope, S.S. Chancellorsville and S.S. Kittanning. At the age of 18, he joined the U.S. Army (Infantry) and moved up to the rank of Sergeant. He was later transferred to the U.S. Air Force where he served with the Air Transport Command 1601st Maintenance Sqdn. supporting the Berlin Airlift to rebuild Europe. Art went on to serve as Secretary for the Founding Chapter of the Hector P. Garcia American G.I. Forum and worked for Sears for 20 years and retired from J.C. Penny after 22 years.

He was preceded in death by the Love of his Life, Maria E. Hernandez and daughter Theresa Hernandez. They were married for 59 years and our father looked forward to their reunion in Heaven. He is survived by his children, Juanita Morales, Theresa (Ruben) Basaldu, Leticia (Roel) Ruiz, Manuel (Yolanda) Hernandez, Arturo Hernandez, Jr., sister, Rachel Villarreal of Harlingen, Texas, twelve grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

We Thank God for having given us two wonderful and supportive parents! They went above and beyond and we Thank the Lord for putting them in our lives.

Visitation will be held from 8:00 am to 11:30 am on Thursday, July 25, 2013 at Funeraria Del Angel, 549 Cheyenne. A Funeral Mass will follow at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church at 12:00 pm, with interment to follow at Rose Hill Cemetery.

The family would like to Thank Odyssey Hospice, especially Karen Martin, RN and Katherine Short, RN for their gift of caring and support and to all of their neighbors and friends who were there for them throughout the years.

Honorary pallbearers will be Arturo Hernandez, Jr., Carlos Franco, George Barron, Pablo Fuentes, Armando Elizondo and Sammy Morales.

In Lieu of flowers, please support your local veterans.