Arturo is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Emede M. Vela, and sister, Dora Jasso.
He is survived by brothers, Guadalupe Vela Jr., Rodolfo Vela, Alejandro Vela, and Reynaldo Vela; sisters, Cruz Garza, Esperanza Florez, and Maria Leticia Quiroz all of Falfurrias; and numerous nieces and nephews.