Predeceased him in death include his Mom and Dad, Alfonso and Amalia Mendez; his sisters, Amelia Molina and Ninfa Mendez; and his beloved granddaughter, Christine M. Barnes.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Flora; four daughters, Doris (Dee) Bellacetin and husband, Fernando, of Selma, Texas, Judy M. Cable and husband, Ralph, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Maria Amburgey and husband, Terry, of Moneta, Virginia, Flora Reich and husband, Kenneth, of San Antonio, Texas, and son, Jesse Mendez and wife, Sarah, of Plano, Texas; his brothers, Alfonso Mendez, of Las Vegas, Nevada, Gilbert Mendez and wife, Linda, of Traverse City, Michigan; and a special son-in-law, John Rodriguez, of San Antonio, Texas.
Also his grandchildren, Joy Marie Gorham, Jason Barnes, Dawn Rodriguez, Jennifer Humphrey, Cole Mendez, Zachary Mendez; eight great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren; and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins whom he loved dearly and many friends (too many to name).
Jesus was born in Zamora, Michoacán, Mexico on July 29, 1932 and came to the United States with his parents at the age of fourteen and resided in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He joined the military at the age of eighteen during the Korean Conflict, served in the Vietnam War, Europe, and in the United States. Jesse and his family moved to San Antonio in 1968 and he retired in 1976 after twenty-four years of service. Shortly after military retirement he began his new career with the Northeast Independent School District and retired in 1994. Jesus enjoyed fishing, barbequing, bowling, cooking, and watching novellas with his beloved wife, Flora by his side.
We would like to express our thanks to Embrace Hospice and a special thanks to Dad’s nurse, Jorge Carrizales.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, May 21, 2018 at 11:30am at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 6680 Crestway Dr, San Antonio, TX 78239. A private burial will be at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Jesus’s name to The San Antonio Lighthouse for The Blind and Vision Impaired, 2305 Roosevelt Ave, San Antonio, TX 78210, (210)533-5195.
