Antonio & Celinda Santos

Antonio L. Santos, 75, born on August 10, 1944 in Hondo, Texas to Consuelo and Alfredo Santos, peacefully passed away on June 14, 2020. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Arturo, sisters Susie and Elvira, and infant son Stacey. He is survived by brother Alfredo Santos Jr., children Sandra (Al), Steve, Angela (Gary), Richard, Kristina (Craig), Blanche (Noe), and Christopher; sons-in-law Al, Gary, Noe, and Craig; grandchildren Anissa, David, Valerie, Stephen, Michael, Isaac, Miranda, Rebekah, Diego, Tory, John, Carlee, Catrina, Carlos, Lia, Zoey; great-grandchildren Oliver and John Anthony Jr., best friend and son-in-law Craig, and numerous nieces and nephews. Tony served in Vietnam in 1967, where he was wounded in the head. He received the Purple Heart, he was never expected to live or walk again. He proved them wrong. He went on to marry the love of his life on June 12, 1971.

Celinda Santos, 72, born on May 26, 1948 to Guadalupe and Antonio Palacios in Hondo, Texas, peacefully passed away 31 hours later on June 15, 2020 surrounded by her daughters, and her grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brothers Guadalupe (Bernice) and Victor, and her infant son Stacey. She is survived by step-mother Rosa, sisters Essie (Arnufo), Hopie, Diama (Richard), Bedelia, Amanda, and brothers Antonio (Oralia), Richard (Mary), and Jerry (Dora), her daughters Angela, Kristina, Blanche, sons-in-law Gary, Noe, and Craig, grandchildren Anissa, David, Valerie, Stephen, Michael, Isaac, Miranda, Rebekah, Diego, Tory, John, Carlee, Catrina, Carlos, Lia, Zoey; great-grandchildren Oliver and John Anthony Jr., and numerous nieces and nephews. Celinda grew up in Hondo, Texas and moved to Houston in the 70’s with Antonio. She shared the same warrior spirit as her husband and together they held rallies to support the troops, walks to honor the fallen, parades to celebrate and honor veterans. They were a team and left this world the same way they lived it, with courage, fighting the good fight and together.

Together they raised their children with their warrior spirit. They rallied behind each other and built a beautiful life together for the next 49 years of marriage. Antonio was the Commander of the Texas Vietnam Veterans Organization where he and Celinda continued to honor veterans and causes in the community. They were always ready to proudly help anyone in need. Antonio had a Veterans museum in Houston where he proudly displayed memorabilia of fallen soldiers. He had a replica of a Veteran wall memorial with the names of local fallen heroes. With Celinda by his side (pulling the trailer that carried the replica Vietnam wall) Tony would walk across Texas with his flags and fellow veterans, honoring fallen soldiers. They stopped in small towns to give flags to the mothers of the fallen along the way. Celinda and Antonio passed away 31 hours apart from each other. They always said they would go together. Celinda and Antonio are survived by numerous family and friends that love them very much and they will truly be missed. Theirs is a love story that will never end. Rest in paradise, Mommy and Daddy.