Manuel E. Quijas Sr.

He was a WWII Veteran and served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945, with the 820th Tank Destroyer Battalion, and was a survivor of the Battle of the Bulge, the Battle of Rhineland and Battle of the Ardennes in Central Europe.

He came to Corpus Christi in 1952 from Edinburg, Texas and retired from Reynolds Metal Co. in 1991. Manuel enjoyed participating in all the Veterans Day events at Sherrill Park and a member of the VFW Post 2397, he enjoyed sports, boxing and football and had a compassion for music, especially dancing as he was known to many as “El Bailador” (The Dancer) at Zavala and Greenwood Senior Centers.

He is preceded in death by the mother of his 13 children, Cecilia Salinas-Quijas, his 2 daughters Ida Lou Quijas and Norma Quijas- Holder, 2 sons Jesus Quijas and Manuel Quijas Jr., his mother Dolores E. Quijas, 2 brothers Carlos and Antonio Quijas, 3 sisters, Chelo Resendez, Ramona Vasquez and Reyes Munoz and 2 grandchildren, Ray Cullum Jr. and Carol Quijas-Kirkham.

Manuel is survived by his daughters, Dolores (Lloyd) Gosey, Belinda (Doug) Rush, Hilda (Doug) Long all of Corpus Christi, Texas and Rita (Reginald) Porter of Fort Worth, Texas; his sons, Ramie Morin of Edinburg, Texas, Richard (Cheryl) Quijas, Bobby (Valee) Quijas, Ramon (Darlene) Quijas and Reynaldo Quijas all of Corpus Christi, Texas and one brother Martin Quijas. Manuel had 31 grandchildren, 40 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends! “POPO” will be missed for all the dancing he did at the QUIJAS PARTIES!

A very special “Thank You” to The Palms Nursing Home, especially the 2nd floor Nursing and Aide Staff.

Visitation will be held on Monday, June 2, 2014 from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. that same evening at Our Lady Star of the Sea 3110 E Causeway Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78402.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady Star of the Sea with Interment to be at Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery at 11:00 a.m.

Condolences may be offered at www.memorygardensfuneralhome.com